What's happening
This bill requires pregnancy service centers to clearly disclose to clients whether they provide medical staff, abortion, emergency contraception, and prenatal care referrals.
Why it matters
Mandates transparency about services. By requiring pregnancy service centers to state whether they have licensed medical providers and whether they offer or refer for abortion, emergency contraception, or prenatal care, the bill addresses concerns about clients receiving unclear or misleading information about available services.
Standardizes disclosures to protect consumers. The bill requires disclosures both in writing (in English and Spanish) and orally, ensuring that all clients—regardless of language or how they contact the center—are clearly informed about the center’s capabilities and limitations.
Impacts advertising and in-person experience. The law covers not just in-center signage but also any advertisements, which could reduce the risk of deceptive marketing practices and help clients make more informed decisions before visiting or engaging with a center.
Supports informed decision-making in reproductive health. By highlighting the encouragement from state health departments to consult with licensed medical providers, the bill aims to steer pregnant individuals toward medically accurate information and care, potentially reducing risks from unqualified advice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Pregnancy Center Services
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
102
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring pregnancy service centers to disclose certain information to clients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2503-a to read as follows:
§ 2503-a. Pregnancy service center disclosures. 1. A pregnancy services center shall disclose to a client the following information:
(a) that the department and the department of mental hygiene encourage women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed medical provider;
(b) if it does or does not have a licensed medical provider on staff who provides or directly supervises the provision of all of the services at such pregnancy services center;
(c) if it does provide or does not provide referrals for abortion;
(d) if it does provide or does not provide referrals for emergency contraception; and
(e) if it does provide or does not provide referrals for prenatal care.
2. The disclosures required by this section must be provided:
(a) in writing, in English and Spanish in a size and style as determined in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner on: (i) at least one sign conspicuously posted in the entrance of the pregnancy services center; (ii) at least one additional sign posted in any area where clients wait to receive services; and (iii) in any advertisement promoting the services of such pregnancy services center in clear and prominent letter type and in a size and style to be determined in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05325-01-7
S. 102 2
(b) orally, whether by in person or telephone communication, upon a client or prospective client request for any of the following services: (i) abortion; (ii) emergency contraception; or (iii) prenatal care.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring pregnancy service centers to disclose certain information to clients
Purpose
Requires pregnancy service centers to disclose certain information to clients
Summary of provisions
Section One of the bill adds a new section to the Public Health Law, 2503-a to state that a pregnancy service center shall disclose to a client the following information:
* That the Department of Health encourage women who are or who may be pregnant to consult with a licensed medical provider;
* If it does or does not have a licensed medical provider or staff who provides or directly supervises the provision of all services at such pregnancy service centers;
* If it does or does not provide referrals for abortion;
* If it does or does not provide referrals for emergency contraception; and
* If it does or does not provide referrals for prenatal care;
The disclosures required by this section must be provided in writing, in English and Spanish in a size and style determined by the Commissioner of Health on at least one sign conspicuously posted in the entrance of the pregnancy service center, at least one additional sign posted in any area where clients wait to receive services and in any advertisement promoting the services of in clear and prominent letter type in a size and style determined by the Commissioner of Health.
The disclosure must also be provided orally, whether in person or telephone communication, upon a client or prospective client request for any of the following services; (1) abortion, (2) emergency contraception and/or 3) prenatal care.
Existing law
New law
Justification
So-called "crisis pregnancy centers," or CPCs, have been found to engage in deceptive practices, which include misleading consumers about the types of goods and services they provide and the availability of licensed medical providers that provide or oversee services on-site. These deceptive practices can impede and/or delay consumers' access to reproductive health care and counseling from a licensed medical provider. Furthermore, delayed access to abortion and emergency contraception increases health risks and financial burdens and may eliminate a woman's ability to obtain these services altogether.
According to a report by NARAL Pro-Choice New York Foundation entitled "She Said Abortion Could Cause Breast Cancer," "crisis pregnancy centers are typically non-profit organizations posing as pseudo-medical facilities operated by anti-choice activists that aim to coerce women considering abortion into carrying their pregnancies to term."
This legislation requires all pregnancy service centers to provide clear disclosure of crucial information that health care consumers, including pregnant women for whom quality health care services is especially important, need to make informed decisions.
In 2002, former New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer launched an investigation into CPCs throughout New York State. A resulting settlement agreement required one CPC, Birthright of Victor New York, Inc., to disclose certain information, including that the company is not a licensed medical provider, so that health care consumers may make informed decisions about whether to solicit the business. Unfortunately, other CPCs continue to operate without any disclosure requirements, leaving New Yorkers susceptible to this dangerous deception.
Legislative history
S.508 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Health S.5175 of 2013-2014 (Hoylman): Died in Health
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.