Mississippi Anticipated Legislative Issues 2013
Overview
The Mississippi legislature is majority anti-choice, anti-woman and anti-family. Over the course of the 2013 legislative session, we anticipate seeing many of the same legislative issues we have seen in years past, including attempts to restrict access to family planning services, to further restrict or ban abortion, and to specifically target minor’s access to abortion and family planning services. We will likely see additional attempts to introduce “personhood” legislation similar to the initiative that Mississippi voters firmly rejected in 2011 with a margin of 16 points.
In addition to the “usual suspects” we will see a battle around expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Both Governor Phil Bryant and Lt. Governor Tate Reeves have said without reservation that the state will not expand Medicaid. The Legislative Black Caucus and Democratic members of the legislature in both chambers have stated that they will fight this position and work to ensure that low-income families are able to receive health care benefits through this program.
Note: At the time of this writing it remains unclear whether the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Mississippi’s only abortion provider, will be able to keep its doors open following the passage of a 2012 TRAP bill requiring that all providers have hospital admitting privileges. The matter is currently being litigated. (Note: TRAP refers to Targeted Restrictions for Abortion Providers.)
Specific legislation anticipated for 2013
Abortion Access Restrictions
• Outright abortion ban to criminalize all abortions and make performing an abortion a felony. Will likely include erroneous information mischaracterizing abortion as being dangerous to women’s physical and mental health.
• TRAP legislation that would require physicians who perform abortions be covered by a medical malpractice insurance policy issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in Mississippi – but no such insurance company exists.
Telemedicine
• Re-introduction of legislation restricting access to abortion services in Mississippi, even though no one provides such services.
Comprehensive Sex Education
• Strengthening of the 2011 sex education bill to require that “abstinence plus” sex education is more comprehensive than currently allowed and that more schools provide these programs than abstinence-only programs.
• Weakening of the 2011 sex education bill to require abstinence-only education instead “abstinence plus” programs.
Mississippi Anticipated Legislative Issues 2013
Restrictions on Minors’ Access to Reproductive Health Care
• Re-introduction of legislation that would create a civil liability for anyone assisting a minor in receiving abortion services without meeting Mississippi’s two-parent consent requirement (including allowing parents to sue each other) and expanding mandatory reporting to such a degree that clergy and health care professionals could be required to report a wide range of teen sexual activity.
• Re-introduction of legislation creating a felony for assisting a minor from crossing state lines without meeting Mississippi’s two-parent written consent requirement.
Personhood
• Introduction of legislation similar to the “personhood” ballot initiative rejected by Mississippi voters on the November 2011 ballot that stated, “Should the term “person” be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the equivalent thereof?”
Embryo-Focused
• Re-introduction of the "Mississippi Human Embryo Adoption Act" requiring that the transfer of human embryos must be done under the state adoption rules and requiring the terms "minor" and "child," as used in the adoption laws include a human embryo, and other related issues.
• Re-introduction of the "Destructive Human Embryo Research Act" to create a felony for conducting destructive research on a human embryo or transferring a human embryo or gamete for destructive research purposes.
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Our elected representatives should champion a health care agenda that puts
prevention first to ensure all Mississippians have access to the
information and services they need to stay healthy.
What Can You Do To Help?
Make sure you stay informed on emerging issues. Sign up for Planned Parenthood’s
Action Network (PPAN) at http://tinyurl.com/ppsesignup
Through PPAN you’ll be able to take direct action and
voice your opinion to your elected officials on critical issues.
