NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts : News : Press Releases

BOSTON—The Buffer Zones Bill, legislation that strengthens the protest-free buffer zone outside of reproductive health centers, reached Governor Patrick’s desk today after final enactment votes by both the House and Senate. The Senate passed the bill unanimously and without objection, and the House followed suit last Thursday, voting in favor of the bill by a margin of 122-28. Governor Patrick has indicated that he will sign the bill into law.

The Buffer Zones Bill, championed in the Senate by Senators Susan Fargo (D-Concord) and Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester), and in the House by Representatives Marty Walz (D-Boston) and Carl Sciortino (D-Medford), strengthens the current law by establishing a fixed 35-foot buffer zone around the entrances and driveways of all reproductive health facilities in Massachusetts. The legislation would significantly improve upon the current law, which has been nearly impossible to enforce due to its vagueness and complexity. The bill seeks to protect the safety, privacy and dignity of patients and staff entering reproductive health facilities.

“Ensuring patients have safe access to reproductive health facilities is both a fundamental right and an essential component of ensuring public safety and order,” said Chandler.

“Experience has proven that buffer zones are effective, cost efficient, responsive to individual rights and constitutional,” said Fargo, the lead sponsor of the original Buffer Zones Bill in 2000.

“I’ve been to some of these health care facilities,” said Sciortino. “I’ve seen firsthand the tactics used against patients and staff. This bill allows protestors to exercise their right to free speech while ensuring individuals accessing health care can do so free from in-your-face intimidation and harassment.”

“We must not only provide protection for women seeing their health care providers but we must also recognize the free speech rights of protestors. This bill achieves both of these goals,” said Walz.

The legislation that was sent to the Governor today would replace the state's current Buffer Zones Law, which was enacted in 2000. The current law, which established 6-foot “bubble zones” around individuals when they are within 18 feet of a reproductive health care facility, has been criticized by law enforcement, patients and health care staff as being ineffective and unenforceable.

“Planned Parenthood supports this bill because it will protect the safety, privacy and dignity of patients who are just trying to get to their doctors appointments, and staff who are just trying to do their jobs,” said Angus McQuilken, VP for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. “Patients should not have to run a gauntlet of in-your-face harassment just to get to their doctors appointments.”

“No one deserves to be harassed and intimidated when seeking health services. The current Buffer Zones Law has been proven to be ineffective. We applaud the Legislature for enacting the Buffer Zones Bill today to protect the patients and staff at reproductive health facilities across the Commonwealth,” said Kelly O’Bryan, Political Director for NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

The bill received strong support from Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole) and Representative Michael Costello (D-Newburyport), Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, and a coalition of organizations that advocate for private and confidential access to sexual and reproductive health care services. These organizations include Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus.

“The Buffer Zones Bill creates an enforceable, clearly defined buffer zone that will prevent women seeking care at reproductive health clinics from being forced to run a gauntlet of intimidation and harassment in order to receive care,” said Timilty. “I am proud that we have passed this vital piece of public safety legislation in fulfillment of the promise made in 2000 to maintain a safe environment around clinics in Massachusetts.”

“We have worked to ensure that this new buffer zone bill meets Constitutional muster, balancing First Amendment rights with the rights of individuals to safely access a reproductive health care facility,” said Chairman Costello.

The current Buffer Zones Law was enacted in response to the murder of two women's health center employees by anti-choice extremist John Salvi in 1994. The shootings took place at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Preterm Health Services.

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts is the largest freestanding reproductive health care provider in the state. For nearly 80 years, PPLM has protected and promoted reproductive health and freedom of choice through clinical services, education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.pplm.org.

NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is the state's leading advocate for privacy and a woman's right to choose. For more information, please visit www.prochoicemass.org.