[LWVNM Action] Reproductive Justice Legislation

[Ann LePage]

Thanks !
Ann

On Sat, Jan 14, 2023 at 9:43 AM Richard Mason via Action <
action at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> Dan McKay – ABQ Journal 1/14/23
>
> SANTA FE — Democratic lawmakers pledged Friday to pursue legislation that
> would prohibit counties from interfering with abortion rights and allow
> individuals to sue if their reproductive health care information is shared.
>
> The legislative package is aimed at strengthening abortion rights in a
> state where abortion is already legal but some city and counties are
> targeting it with local anti-abortion ordinances.
>
> The bill sponsors said they also want to safeguard the privacy of
> individuals who might travel to New Mexico because of abortion restrictions
> imposed in their home states.
>
> The legislative package is expected to be broken into two bills — one
> starting in the House, the other in the Senate.
>
> “We want to make sure people aren’t scared to get the health care they
> need,” Democratic Rep. Linda Serrato of Santa Fe said Friday in an online
> news conference.
>
> She plans to sponsor a bill prohibiting cities, counties or other public
> bodies from restricting reproductive health care rights. It would also
> prohibit discrimination against an individual’s right to health care
> related to gender.
>
> The proposal follows the passage of anti-abortion ordinances in Roosevelt
> County and other communities near the Texas line.
>
> Roosevelt County commissioners, for example, voted for an ordinance that
> aims to ban use of the mail or other interstate carriers to deliver
> abortion drugs. It would be enforced by allowing individuals to file civil
> lawsuits seeking damages of at least $100,000.
>
> Commissioner Rodney Savage, a Republican from Portales, said the
> Legislature should allow communities to develop their own abortion
> regulations.
>
> “There’s overwhelming support for pro-life in our part of the country,” he
> told the Journal.
>
> Ellie Rushforth, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New
> Mexico, said the local anti-abortion ordinances are already
> unconstitutional. But the state legislation would address misinformation,
> she said, and make it clear that access to abortion or other health care
> can’t be curtailed by local politicians.
>
> A second proposal — to be sponsored by Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque —
> would put into law an executive order issued last year by Gov. Michelle
> Lujan Grisham, prohibiting state agencies from sharing the reproductive
> health care information of patients or providers.
>
> It’s intended, supporters said, to protect people from out-of-state
> investigations or harassment.
>
> The measure would also allow patients or providers to file lawsuits
> against public agencies, private companies or nonprofit groups that share
> personal medical data related to reproductive health care.
>
> “While (federal law) provides some protections for this information, we
> know that it is not enough,” Rushforth said, “particularly given the
> insidious attacks on reproductive freedom.”
>
> The two bills are expected to be introduced in the 60-day legislative
> session that opens Tuesday.
>
> The package comes after abortion rights played a central role in the 2022
> campaigns for the Roundhouse.
>
> Democrats — who maintained a healthy majority in the state House and kept
> control of the executive branch — vowed to safeguard reproductive health
> care rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and sent
> the debate to state governments.
>
> Abortion has remained legal in New Mexico because Lujan Grisham signed
> legislation two years ago repealing a 1969 statute that made it a crime in
> most cases.
>
>
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