UPDATED Status on Reproductive Rights Legislation
Introduced in the 2003 - 2004 Biennium
Last Updated Monday, May 13, 2003 Bill status showed in italics. PRO-CHOICE, PROACTIVE, PREGNANCY PREVENTION LEGISLATION 1. Contraceptive Equity Act (SF 0269 / HF 0325)
Requires health insurance companies to cover 5 FDA approved forms of contraceptives.
HF 0325 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
SF 0269 – approved by Commerce and Utilities Committee, approved by Health & Family Security Committee, referred to Senate Floor
2. Comprehensive Sexuality Education Act (HF 0765 / SF 0851)
Reinstates comprehensive sexual health education as the standard for HIV/STD and pregnancy prevention curriculum in schools. It requires abstinence-plus or a "comprehensive, technically accurate, and updated curriculum that includes, but is not limited to, helping students to abstain from sexual activity."
HF 0765 – referred to Education Policy Committee
SF 0851 – approved by Education Committee, inserted as amendment into Omnibus E-12 Education bill (SF 1528). Senate substituted the House version (HF 1404) with SF 1528, passed it May 2 (36-26) and sent it to Conference Committee. (The House version has “abstinence-only” sex ed—see “Abstinence-only” Sexuality Education below.)
HOUSE CONFEREES: Seagren, Sykora, Kielkucki, Buesgens, Marquart
SENATE CONFEREES: Kelley, Skoe, Bakk, Skoglund, Anderson 3. Emergency Care for Sexual Assault Victims Act (HF 0322 / SF 0270)
Requires hospital emergency rooms to provide emergency contraception to survivors of sexual assault.
HF 0322 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
SF 0270– approved by Health and Family Security Committee, referred to Finance Committee
ANTI-CHOICE LEGISLATION
1. Woman’s Right to Know / 24-Hour Waiting Period (Version 1: SF 0018; Version 2: SF 0695 / HF 0668)
Introduced and amended into many shapes and sizes over the years – and vetoed twice by Gov. Ventura. One bill has the name of the physician revealed, while another has an unscientific definition of ‘unborn child,’ a direct to the state Supreme Court provision, elaborate and unnecessary enhancement of physician reporting requirements, and scientifically unproven reference to ‘fetal pain.’ (SF 695 and HF 668 are companion bills that have several identical clones in the legislature: SF 696, SF 778, SF 779, SF 780, SF 848, SF 849, SF 975, SF 976, HF 669, HF 670)
SF 0018 – referred to Health and Family Security Committee
SF 0695 – referred to Health and Family Security Committee
HF 0668 – approved by Health and Human Services Policy Committee, approved by Civil Laws Committee, approved by Gov’t Operations and Vet Affairs Committee, approved by Health and Human Services Finance Committee, approved by Ways and Means Committee, passed by full House on Mar. 31 (91-41).
SF 0187—Attached as amendment to SF 0187 and passed by full House on April. 7, passed by full Senate Apr. 14 (35-31), and signed by Governor Apr. 14.
2. Family Planning Funding (HF 0437)
Family Planning Special Projects (FPSP) funding has been threatened in a variety of ways (see HF 1177 below). Currently the House has proposed cutting FPSP funding by 50% in an amendment to HF 437, greatly reducing poor and working class Minnesotans’ ability to receive family planning and reproductive health services.
HF 0437 amended with family planning cut in Health and Human Services Finance Committee, passed by Ways and Means Committee, passed by House on May 1 (74-59). Senate substituted the bill with SF 1532, which included full funding of family planning. Passed by Senate May 2 (36-28) and sent to Conference Committee.
HOUSE CONFEREES – Bradley, Boudreau, Wilkin, Abeler, Samuelson
SENATE CONFEREES – Berglin, Lourey, Higgins, Foley, Kiscaden
3. “Partial-Birth” Abortion Ban (HF 0887 / SF 0020)
Bans so-called “partial birth” abortions. The bill is so vaguely worded that it could be interpreted to ban some 1st trimester abortions and has no exception for the health of the women.
HF 0877 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
SF 0020 – referred to Health and Family Security Committee
4. Constitutional amendment on protection of the right to choose (HF 0165)
Would require the Minnesota Constitution to be interpreted as the U.S. Constitution is on abortion issues. The Minnesota Constitution protects abortion rights to a greater extent. This amendment would remove that protection.
HF 0165 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee 5. Constitutional amendment on state funding of abortion (HF 0009 / SF 0108)
Constitutional amendment prohibiting any state funds from paying for abortion services. Currently the state pays for abortions for Medicaid eligible women.
HF 0009 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
SF 0108 – referred to Health and Family Security Committee 6. “Choose Life” License Plate (HF 0515)
Creates a special “Choose Life” license plate. The plate would cost an additional $25, which would go to a fund for organizations that counsel and support pregnant women interested in adoption. The organizations cannot be directly or indirectly connected to abortion activities.
HF 0515 – referred to Transportation Policy Committee 7. Taxpayer Protection Act / Super Gag Rule (HF 0436 / SF 0431)
Prohibits a wide variety of state family planning funds from going to any organization that provides, counsels, or refers for abortions, or any organization that even considers abortion to be "part of a continuum of reproductive health services."
HF 0436 – passed by Health and Human Services Policy Committee, placed on General Register for scheduled full House vote
SF 0431 – heard by Health and Family Security Committee, no action taken on bill 8. Parental Access to Minors’ Medical Records (HF 0352 / SF 0570)
Entitles parents to have full access to a minor child's confidential health records in regards to mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, pregnancy-related treatment, and contraception. This does not effect the current law requiring two-parent notification for minors seeking an abortion.
HF 0352 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy
SF 0570 - referred to Health and Family Security Committee
HF 437 – inserted as amendment into the Omnibus HHS bill, passed by the House May 1 (74-59). Senate substituted the bill with SF 1532, which did not include parental access to minor’s records. Passed by Senate May 2 (36-28) and sent to Conference Committee.
HOUSE CONFEREES – Bradley, Boudreau, Wilkin, Abeler, Samuelson
SENATE CONFEREES – Berglin, Lourey, Higgins, Foley, Kiscaden 9. Abstinence-Only Sexuality Education (HF 0580 / SF 0747)
Amends the sexually transmitted disease education component to require that it focus on “promoting marriage.”
HF 0580 – approved by Education Policy Committee; inserted as an amendment into the Omnibus E-12 Education Bill (HF 1404) and passed by House on April 30 (71-60). Senate substituted the bill with SF 1528, which has comprehensive sex ed—-see above. Passed by Senate May 2 (36-26) and sent to Conference Committee.
SF 0747 – defeated by Education Committee, some language inserted as amendment to sex education bill in Education Budget Division
HOUSE CONFEREES: Seagren, Sykora, Kielkucki, Buesgens, Marquart
SENATE CONFEREES: Kelley, Skoe, Bakk, Skoglund, Anderson 10. Pharmacist Right to Refuse (HF 0516)
Forbids the board of pharmacy from disciplining a pharmacist who refuses to dispense a pharmaceutical based on personal, religious, or moral convictions.
HF 0516 – referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee 11. Reporting on Parental Notification (HF 0618 / SF 0612)
Requires clinics and judges to report a variety of information regarding minors who seek a judicial bypass from parental consent abortion. Designed to identify pro-choice judges for electoral defeat.
HF 0618 - referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
SF 0612 - referred to Health and Family Security Committee 12. Funds Diverted for "Natural Family Planning" (HF 1177)
Mandates that at least 10% of state Family Planning Special Projects (FPSP) funds be allocated to agencies that conduct only “natural family planning.” Does not include definition on “natural family planning.”
HF 1177 - referred to Health and Human Services Policy Committee
| 
