Assembly Bill A4372

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4372
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 4, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Health
 
 AN ACT to direct the consumer protection division to conduct a study  on
   limited service pregnancy center entities
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. 1. The consumer protection division shall conduct  a  study
 on  "limited service pregnancy center" entities whose primary purpose is
 to provide pregnancy-related  services  and  who  advertise  or  solicit
 patronage  based on offers to provide pregnancy tests, prenatal sonogra-
 phy, and counseling about pregnancy options. Such limited service  preg-
 nancy  centers  shall  not  include  entities  that provide or refer for
 abortions, prenatal care or emergency contraception.
   2. Such study shall require the division to  collect  data  from  such
 entities and other relevant sources which shall include but shall not be
 limited to:
   (a)  What state funds, if any, are directly or indirectly allocated to
 limited service pregnancy  centers  in  the  state  and  the  names  and
 locations of such organizations receiving state funding.
   (b)  What  federal funds, if any, are directly or indirectly allocated
 to limited service pregnancy centers in the  state  and  the  names  and
 locations of such organizations receiving federal funding.
   (c)  Whether  the  limited  service pregnancy centers in the state are
 part of larger umbrella organizations that operate limited service preg-
 nancy centers across the country.
   (d) The number of women who access services at limited  service  preg-
 nancy  centers  and the geographic regions in which each woman accessing
 the services of limited service pregnancy center resides.
   (e) What services are provided by limited service pregnancy centers.
   (f) Whether limited service pregnancy centers hold themselves  out  to
 the  public, either in person, through community participation or events
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD05698-01-9

 A. 4372                             2
 
 or through their advertising, websites or social media, as  entities  in
 which comprehensive, all-options pregnancy counseling is provided.
   (g)  Whether  misleading or medically or factually inaccurate informa-
 tion is given to people seeking services at  limited  service  pregnancy
 centers,  including but not limited to misinformation about: the alleged
 links between abortions and breast cancer, the effects  of  abortion  on
 future fertility and the effects of abortion on mental health.
   (h)  If  relevant,  whether limited service pregnancy centers disclose
 their religious affiliation.
   (i) Whether any limited service pregnancy center informs people  seek-
 ing  services  whether  or  not  it has any medical professionals on the
 premises or on its staff.
   (j) The number of state-certified medical professionals  on  staff  or
 providing regular volunteer medical services at limited service pregnan-
 cy centers.
   (k)  Whether  any  limited service pregnancy center informs its people
 seeking services that it does not provide  or  refer  for  comprehensive
 reproductive  health  care services, such as abortions, contraception or
 prenatal care.
   (l) Whether any limited service pregnancy centers are providing ultra-
 sound examinations, the medical licensure of the person  performing  and
 interpreting  the examinations if any, and how they disclose the results
 of the examinations to clients.
   (m) Whether limited service pregnancy centers collect information that
 would be considered confidential in a licensed medical  facility  forma-
 tion,  how  they handle medical records, and whether the medical records
 are in compliance with federal and state requirements governing  medical
 privacy.
   3.  The consumer protection division shall make a report to the gover-
 nor and the legislature of its findings, conclusions and recommendations
 no later than one year after the effective date of this  act  and  shall
 submit with this report such legislative proposals as it deems necessary
 to implement its recommendations.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.