Volume XIV, Number 36 / April 5, 1999

Florida Anti-Choice Bills Stalled
The steamroller of anti-choice legislation that was expected when Jeb Bush (R) was elected as Florida’s governor in 1998 with the Republicans in control of the legislature seems to have hit a snag. A hearing in the Senate Health, Aging and Long-Term Care Committee did not go smoothly and approval of three bills -to regulate clinics that provide abortions; to require minors to notify a parent before obtaining an abortion; and to ban so-called "partial birth" abortions – was delayed. After the hearing, Senate leader, Jack Latvala (R) predicted that the clinic regulation bill would not get out of committee.

The committee only debated the so-called "partial birth" abortion bill. Committee members raised questions about the absence of an exception to protect a woman’s health, and there was concern that a legislative staff report on whether or not the language would be constitutional was not done. A previous attempt to pass such an abortion ban was declared unconstitutionally vague by a federal judge.

A conflict arose when the committee’s chair allowed a lawyer from the state’s Catholic Conference to come up from the audience to testify on the provision’s constitutionality, but would not allow an attorney opposed to the legislation present her views.

Latvala did predict that the third bill, requiring parental notification for a minor’s abortion, would eventually be approved by the committee.

In the House, a hearing held on a parental notice bill also ran into trouble, when a huge crowd of opponents of the bill, including many Planned Parenthood CEOs, staff, volunteers and board members, signed up to speak at the hearing.

Contraceptive Equity Bills Keep Moving In Several States, Delayed In Rhode Island
In Illinois, the House voted 87-29 to approved a bill that would require insurance companies that cover prescription drugs to cover contraceptive drugs and devices. The bill now goes to the Senate, where, as in the House, it is sponsored by a Republican woman legislator. Pam Sutherland, CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, believes that, if the bill is approved by committee, it has a good chance of passage by the full Senate. Newly elected anti-choice Gov. George Ryan (R) has not taken a position on the bill.

In Maine, the contraceptive equity bill has strong bi-partisan support. It also has little opposition from the state’s insurance industry because, according to an article in the March 30 issue of the Press-Herald, most of the state’s insurers already provide coverage for birth control pills and contraceptive devices.

The major opponent to the legislation is the state’s Catholic diocese. This opposition has led to the bill’s being amended to provide an exception to the requirement for religious organizations recognized by the IRS. The church does not believe the exemption is broad enough, and also objects because requiring coverage of all FDA-approved methods includes emergency contraceptives among those required to be covered.

The bill was approved by a House committee by a vote of 12-1.

The debate on a contraceptive equity bill in the North Carolina House Health Committee, according to a story in the March 31 edition of the Fayetteville Observer Times, focused on abortion. The committee amended it to exclude the emergency contraceptive drug Preven and mifepristone from the drugs and devices insurers would be required to cover if they cover provide prescription coverage. Also added to the bill was an amendment to exempt religious organizations that do not receive public funds or hire public workers from the requirement to provide contraceptive coverage.
The North Carolina bill already has been approved by the state Senate.

In Rhode Island, the Senate has held over for further study a bill that would have required contraceptive coverage in state employees’ insurance plans. Hearings were held in the House on both a bill to cover state employees, and another that would require private insurers in the state to provide coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices if they cover other prescription drugs and devices. No votes were taken. Susanna Rhodes of PP of Rhode Island says the bills will be held over until next year for the second session of this legislature.

Tennessee Bill On Chlamydia Screening Is Approved
A bill requiring insurance companies to cover chlamydia screening when medically necessary was passed by the Tennessee legislature at the end of March. Barbara Baldwin, CEO of PP of Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates said the "medically necessary" provision includes risk factors or medical reasons to suspect that the screening is necessary. She says this definition covers any instances for which the affiliate medical staffs would feel it necessary to order such screening. The governor is expected to sign the bill.

Quote of the Week
"Contraception is disgusting and demoralizing" and by requiring insurance coverage for it, "you are funding craziness and irresponsibility." Comments by Rev. Joseph E. Looney of Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury, CT, during a committee hearing on contraceptive equity legislation in the Connecticut General Assembly. Hartford Courant, 3/10/99

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