The Reproductive Health Act (RHA) is an essential update to existing reproductive health law in New York State. Though abortion has been legal in New York since 1970, the regulation of abortion remains part of the penal code. Among other things, the Reproductive Health Act would remove abortion regulation from the criminal system and establish it in its appropriate place under the law—as a medical issue, rather than a criminal one.
On June 13th the Reproductive Health Act was announced by Governor Paterson and introduced to the New York State Senate by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and already it has been endangered by misinformation disseminated by those that oppose it. This law will strengthen existing legislation designed to help protect women's health. The Reproductive Health Act will:
- Guarantee a woman's right to control her reproductive health
- Ensure that a woman will be able to have an abortion if her health is endangered
- Treat the regulation of abortion as an issue of public health and medical practice rather than as a potential crime
- Guarantee everyone the right to use or refuse contraception
It's time to update reproductive health law in New York! Click here to visit the Family Planning Advocates of New York State's website and send your legislators a message asking for their support for RHA. To watch a video on the Reproductive Health Act put together by the New York Civil Liberties Union, click here.
