Bill Requiring Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Centers To Post Disclaimers Moving Through City Council

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Abortion;  Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 19 Nov 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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A Baltimore bill (FID 09-0406) to require crisis pregnancy centers to post signs stating that they do not provide abortion services is progressing through the City Council, WBAL reports. The council voted 12-3 in favor of the bill, which now moves on to a third and final vote. The bill has been controversial since it was introduced, prompting a three-hour public hearing and more than one hour of debate before the first council vote.

The bill, introduced by council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, would require Baltimore's four CPCs to post disclaimers saying they do not offer birth control or abortion referrals and services. Failure to disclose the information would result in a $150 fine, WBAL reports. An amendment by council members Jim Kraft and Bill Henry that would have expanded the disclaimer to include prenatal and postnatal assistance failed in a vote (WBAL, 11/17). The bill had previously been amended to allow CPCs a 10-day warning period to post a disclaimer after a violation is reported. The amendment also reduced the fine from $500 to $150, the Baltimore Sun reports.

In a statement, Rawlings-Blake said the bill "is needed to secure women's access to accurate and safe medical information," adding that it will not "hamper" the work of the centers. Keiren Havens, a vice president for Planned Parenthood of Maryland, said women who visit the centers can be misled about what services are offered. She added that studies have shown that women receive false information about the risks of abortion and birth control at some CPCs (Scharper, Baltimore Sun, 11/16).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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