Actions Taken On Women's Health Related Legislation In New Jersey, South Dakota, Wisconsin

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• New Jersey: The Assembly on Thursday approved 46-30 a paid family leave bill (A 873) to allow workers to take up to six weeks leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child or a sick family member and continue to receive a portion of their wages, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. The legislation would allow workers to collect two-thirds of their pay, up to a maximum of $524 weekly, while on leave (Livio, Newark Star-Ledger, 3/14). The measure is expected to replace a bill (S 786) the Senate passed earlier this year. The Senate will take up the bill again after they agree on a state budget, which could be late spring or early summer. Under the bill, companies employing at least 50 people would have to hold a job open for the employee on leave, and smaller companies would have the option of filling the open position. The program would be funded through an employee-only payroll deduction of $33 annually. Some supporters of the measure said it would not cost the state or employers and would make New Jersey a draw for people seeking to balance their personal lives with their careers. Some opponents of the bill have argued that it could potentially drive employers to other states (Young, Bergen Record, 3/14). Gov. Jon Corzine (D) said he intends to sign the bill into law, the Star-Ledger reports (Newark Star-Ledger, 3/14).
  
  
• South Dakota: Gov. Mike Rounds (R) on Thursday signed a measure (SB 88) into law that requires physicians to offer sonograms to women seeking abortions, the AP/Rapid City Journal reports (Brokaw, AP/Rapid City Journal, 3/13). The law states that no "facility that performs abortions may perform an abortion on a pregnant woman without first offering the pregnant woman an opportunity to view a sonogram of her unborn child." It also requires that the woman's "response to the offer ... be documented by the facility, including the date and time of the offer and the woman's signature attesting to her informed decision" (Bill text, 3/14). Opponents of the law said it is not needed and could lead to litigation. Dean Krogman, a lobbyist for the South Dakota State Medical Association who opposes the law, said the bill applies not only to abortion clinics but also to hospitals and other medical facilities where abortions are sometimes necessary. Krogman said the bill also will require additional records to be kept without giving direction about how to keep those records (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/21). Supporters of the law said that viewing a sonogram could influence women against undergoing the procedure and that sonograms already are performed to determine the gestational age of a fetus (AP/Rapid City Journal, 3/13).
  
  
• Wisconsin: Gov. Jim Doyle (D) on Thursday signed into law a bill (AB 377) that requires hospitals to provide sexual assault survivors with emergency contraception upon request, the AP/WKBT.com reports (AP/WKBT.com, 3/13). The law states that if a hospital provides EC to assault survivors, it must provide them with "medically and factually accurate and unbiased written and oral information about" EC and its use and efficacy. Hospitals under the law also are required to inform a survivor "orally ... of her option to receive [EC], her option to report the sexual assault to a law enforcement agency and any available options for her to receive an examination to gather evidence regarding the sexual assault." The law also states that hospitals must "immediately provide" EC to a survivor "upon her request" (AB 377 text, 3/14). Under the law, the Department of Health and Family Services will monitor hospitals for compliance and investigate complaints about violations. Violators of the law will be subject to a fine (Doyle release, 3/13).