Actions Taken On Women's Health-Related Legislation, Programs In Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Abortion;  Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 14 Jun 2007 - 9:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent news of state and local actions on women's health-related issues.

Abortion

• Louisiana: The Senate on Monday voted 38-0 to approve a bill (SB 161) that would ban so-called "partial birth" abortions in the state and create criminal penalties for physicians who perform the procedure, the AP/New Orleans Times Picayune Times Picayune reports. Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. Ben Nevers (D), physicians violating the ban would be subject to a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 and a prison term of one to 10 years. The legislation would allow exceptions to the ban when the life of the pregnant woman is in danger. The measure, which is similar to a federal law, has been sent to the House (Simpson, AP/New Orleans Times Picayune, 6/11). The House last month unanimously voted to approve a similar measure (HB 614), sponsored by Rep. Gary Beard (R) (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/31).

Human Papillomavirus Vaccines

• Massachusetts: Health officials have no plans to require adolescent girls in the state to receive HPV vaccines for school enrollment, Susan Lett, medical director of the state's child immunization program, said Thursday at a hearing convened by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health, the Boston Globe reports. Lett said that the state will have an optional HPV vaccination program. According to the Globe, the hearing was intended to help lawmakers decide whether the state should cover the HPV vaccine, as well as vaccines for meningitis and a severe form of diarrhea. The administration of Gov. Deval Patrick (D) had requested money in its budget proposal to expand the state's child immunization program, but the House eliminated the increase, and the Senate included funding only for the meningitis and diarrhea vaccines. State officials estimate it would cost nearly $23 million to provide the three vaccines to every eligible child in the state (Smith, Boston Globe, 6/8).

Sex Education

• Maryland: Montgomery County, Md., Public Schools Superintendent Jerry Weast last week recommended to the county's Board of Education that all middle and high schools in the district this fall implement a new sex education curriculum that teaches eighth- and 10th-grade students about sexual and gender identity issues and that includes a condom demonstration video, the Washington Post reports (de Vise, Washington Post, 6/8). The Board of Education in January voted 8-0 to approve a pilot program to test the curriculum, which includes two 45-minute classes for eighth-graders and three 45-minute classes for 10th-graders. Only students whose parents have provided written consent can participate in the lessons (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/8). The curriculum was tested at six schools in the spring. According to the Post, a citizens advisory committee on Friday asked Weast in a memo to add five statements concerning homosexuality and same-sex attraction. Weast and his staff rejected most of the additions, but he said teachers would be allowed to tell students that homosexuality is not a mental illness or a disease if they ask about it (de Vise, Washington Post, 6/12). The board is scheduled to consider the recommendations on Tuesday (Washington Post, 6/8). The groups Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, Family Leader Network and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays on Feb. 7 filed a petition against implementation of the curriculum with the Maryland State Board of Education (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/8). According to the Post, a decision on the petition is expected this summer (Washington Post, 6/8).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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