STATEMENT: Decision made regarding preliminary injunction request for HB2416 and SB1030

MEDIA STATEMENT

PHOENIX –  On July 6, the lawyers for the state and a Maricopa County Superior Court judge agreed that restrictions on abortion health care imposed by 2011’s House Bill 2416 and Senate Bill 1030 would not take effect until at least after a further hearing on August 22.  The laws had been scheduled to take effect on July 20.

“We’re pleased with the decision that was made yesterday. The women of Arizona will continue to be able to access a full range of reproductive health care in their own communities,” says Bryan Howard, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Arizona. 

House Bill 2416 and Senate Bill 1030, if implemented, would prohibit certain types of medical professionals from providing abortion-by-pill, a service in which these professionals have been engaged for more than a decade, with exemplary health and safety records.

Planned Parenthood Arizona filed papers on June 29, 2011 seeking to amend an existing lawsuit to also challenge the constitutionality of the 2011 legislation.  The two bills – House Bill 2416 and Senate Bill 1030 – were signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer in April and would otherwise go into effect on July 20.

The proceedings took place in Maricopa County Superior Court.  Planned Parenthood Arizona asked the court to prevent the new restrictions from going into effect in the form of a preliminary injunction.  As a result of the July 6 hearing, the laws will remain stayed while the court has the opportunity to hear evidence and argument on whether they should be allowed to take effect. 

Planned Parenthood Arizona is committed to providing affordable access to health care for women and families and will continue to do so through this litigation process.

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Planned Parenthood Arizona, in state for more than 75 years, is the leading sexual health organization in Arizona. The organization provides health care, education and outreach services to more than 75,000 men, women, teens and parents annually. Planned Parenthood Arizona operates 14 health center locations in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma. For more information, please visit www.ppaz.org.