Actions Taken On Women's Health-Related Legislation, Proposals In Colo., Mich., N.J., N.M.

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;  Sexual Health / STDs;  Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 01 Feb 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent news of state actions on women's health-related legislation and ballot proposals.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Michigan: Stem cell research supporters submitted language for a petition in support of a ballot initiative aimed at loosening restrictions on embryonic stem cell research in the state to the Board of State Canvassers last week, the AP/Mlive.com reports. The proposed ballot initiative would change state law to allow researchers to conduct stem cell research using embryos created for fertility treatments that were not used or were unsuitable for implantation and would otherwise be discarded. The language states that the proposal does not seek to change the state's laws that prohibit and criminalize human cloning. Supporters of the proposal say the state's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research could cause the state to lose scientists and businesses. The Michigan Catholic Conference and Right to Life of Michigan oppose the proposal because it involves the destruction of human embryos. If the canvassing board approves the language, supporters of the proposal would need to collect more than 380,000 signatures from registered voters by July 7 for the proposal to appear on the November ballot (Martin, AP/Mlive.com, 1/29).

New Mexico: The Senate recently voted 20-18 to approve a bill (SB 23) that would authorize stem cell research on human embryos that are left over from fertility treatments and are donated by patients, the AP/Las Cruces Sun-News reports. The research would be conducted at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, which is conducting research on adult stem cells. The bill also would prohibit human cloning. Some lawmakers opposed the measure because the research would involve the use of embryos. The measure now moves to the House, where a similar measure was rejected in committee last year. Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who supports the legislation, said the state "should move forward to conduct potentially lifesaving research under careful conditions and important restrictions." Richardson also has asked the Legislature to approve $2 million to UNM to recruit researchers for a new stem cell research program (Baker, AP/Las Cruces Sun-News, 1/29).

Family Leave

New Jersey: The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday voted 8-6 to approve a bill (S 786) that would allow workers to take time off to care for a new infant or ill family member to be paid while on leave for up to six weeks, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Under the bill, employees would be paid up to two-thirds of their salary up to a maximum of $524 weekly, the Star-Ledger reports. The benefit would be funded solely by an employee payroll deduction of no more than 71 cents weekly (Livio, Newark Star-Ledger, 1/29). Employees in businesses with 50 or more employees would be required to use the paid leave benefit in conjunction with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid family leave annually, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Employees of businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be paid while on leave but would not have job-protected leave, according to the Inquirer. However, some opponents of the bill said state and federal laws would prohibit employers from letting employees go under such circumstances. Opponents also said that the measure could disrupt the operations of small businesses and requested that businesses with fewer than 50 employees be exempt. Supporters of the measure said it recognizes a changing economy and work environment and would increase employee loyalty and productivity (Gambardello, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/29). The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development estimated that about 38,000 of New Jersey's four million workers would use the benefit annually. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. A similar bill (S 2249) that would have provided 10 weeks of annual paid family leave failed in the Senate last year (Newark Star-Ledger, 1/29).

Medicaid Family Planning Services

Colorado: The Senate last Friday preliminarily approved a bill (SB 3) that would direct the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services seeking permission to expand Medicaid coverage of family planning services, the AP/Denver Post reports (AP/Denver Post, 1/25). The measure would require DHCPF to submit a proposal to CMS to expand coverage of family planning services to adults ages 19 to 50 with incomes up to 185% or 200% of the federal poverty level who have no insurance or would not otherwise be eligible for Medicaid (SB 3 text, 1/31). The measure, sponsored by Sen. Betty Boyd (D), would allow coverage for contraception, sterilization and infertility counseling. During Senate consideration, Bill Cadman (R) questioned whether the state should provide support for uninsured residents to help prevent unintended pregnancies. Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R) tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to prohibit any funds saved by expanding family planning services from being spent on abortion (AP/Denver Post, 1/25). The bill, which passed a final reading on Monday, now heads to the House (SB 3 history, 1/31).

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