Current Legislation
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts entered the 2009-2010 legislative term with the largest pro-choice majority in the State House ever, making this session critical to our efforts to use the political process to protect privacy and promote reproductive health. Learn more about the legislation affecting reproductive choice in Massachusetts. Below is a list of legislation we are supporting and opposing in the 2009-2010 session. |
| Supported Bills: |
| An Act Updating the Public Health Laws |
| Bill Number: |
H.1745, S.1610 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on July 14, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Ellen Story |
This bill would revoke three, archaic and unconstitutional statutes that could jeopardize women’s health and well-being if they were ever enforced again. Learn more.
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| An Act Relative to Consent and Counseling for Certain Minors |
| Bill Number: |
H.1746 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
The bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on July 14, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Ellen Story |
This bill would update the consent and counseling criteria to better support young women seeking abortions. Learn more.
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| An Act Relative to Providing Health Education in Schools |
| Bill Number: |
H.3434, S. 218 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
The bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Alice Wolf |
This bill makes explicit that health education (including sex education) is a core subject for which the Commonwealth must maintain academic standards to help local schools districts meet students’ educational needs. It also reiterates state law allowing parents to remove their children from health education classes. Learn more.
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| An Act to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in the Commonwealth |
| Bill Number: |
S.810 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health. The public hearing for this bill was held on June 9, 2009. This bill was given a favorable report by the Joint Committee on Public Health on October 21, 2009 and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Senator Susan Fargo |
This bill would codify the secretariat-level Office of Health Equity, which was created last session to lead statewide efforts to eliminate health disparities. Housed in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, this office will continue to provide the Commonwealth with the leadership, resources, and coordination needed to address health inequality.
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| An Act to Establish Community Based Grant Programs to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in the Commonwealth |
| Bill Number: |
S.811 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Public Health. The public hearing for this bill was held on June 9, 2009. This bill was given a favorable report by the Joint Committee on Public Health on October 21, 2009 and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Senator Susan Fargo |
This bill would create a statewide grant program that supports community-based efforts to address health inequality.
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| An Act Providing Health Education in Women’s Correctional Institutions |
| Bill Number: |
H.1488 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on July 27, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Kay Khan |
This bill requires that prisoners in women’s correctional institutions be given access to written information on women’s health, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections.
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| An Act Relative to Pregnant and Postpartum Inmates in State Prisons |
| Bill Number: |
H.1490 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on July 27, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Kay Khan |
This bill requires the Department of Correction to provide a fulltime perinatal case manager, who provides information about provided health services for pregnant prisoners including delivery care, prenatal vitamins, and mental health counseling.
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| Opposed Bills: |
| An Act Relative to a Woman’s Right to Know |
| Bill Number: |
H.1670 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was refiled in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on July 14, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Elizabeth A. Poirier |
Requires any woman seeking an abortion to delay at least 24 hours after receiving state-scripted counseling" - regardless of circumstances - even if it is irrelevant or inappropriate for her.
|
| An Act Restoring Free Speech and Public Access |
| Bill Number: |
H.3840 |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Robert Hargraves |
This bill would repeal the Buffer Zone Law, which established a fixed buffer zone of 35 feet around the entrances and exits of reproductive health facilities in Massachusetts.
|
| An Act Regarding Parental Notification and Consent |
| Bill Number: |
H.406 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative William Greene |
This bill would require parents or guardians to “opt-in” in order for their children to participate in any school program that involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or “alternative sexual behavior” (as defined by legislation). In addition to requiring written parental consent for these classes, it also seeks to prevent students enrolled in any public elementary or secondary school from providing personal or private information (as detailed in the bill) for any survey, analysis, or evaluation without prior written consent from their parents.
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| An Act Regarding Parental Notification and Consent |
| Bill Number: |
H.421 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Robert Hargraves |
This bill would require parents or guardians to "opt-in" (by providing written permission) before students can participate in any school program that involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or "alternative sexual behavior."
|
| An Act Relative to Parental Notification and Consent |
| Bill Number: |
H.485 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Michael F. Rush |
This bill would require parents or guardians to "opt-in" (by providing written permission) before students can participate in any elective or mandatory course that primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues.
|
| An Act Relative to Parental Notification and Consent |
| Bill Number: |
H.437 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was re-filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Education. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr. |
This bill would require any program that involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation to be offered only as an elective. Written consent by the parents or guardians would be required (opting-in) for students to participate.
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| An Act Requiring Parental Consent on Sex Education in Public Schools |
| Bill Number: |
H.472 [ view bill ] |
| Status: |
This bill was filed in January for the 2009-2010 session and has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The public hearing for this bill was held on October 13, 2009. |
| Sponsor(s): |
Representative Elizabeth A. Poirier |
This bill would require any program that involves human sexual education, human sexuality issues, or sexual orientation to be offered only as an elective and requires an over burdensome process for schools when disclosing information about the curriculum. Written consent by the parents or guardians would be required (opt-in) for students to participate.
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