What's happening
This bill requires crisis pregnancy centers in New York to disclose that they do not provide or refer for abortion or birth control services, with penalties for noncompliance.
Why it matters
Ensures transparency for individuals seeking reproductive health care by requiring crisis pregnancy centers to clearly state that they do not provide or refer for abortion or birth control services, helping clients make informed decisions about where to seek care.
Defines what constitutes a “crisis pregnancy center,” specifically excluding licensed healthcare providers and Title X-funded clinics, thereby targeting organizations that may otherwise appear to offer comprehensive reproductive care but do not.
Mandates that the required disclosure be given at the first point of contact, either in writing or verbally, and in a manner understandable to clients—addressing concerns that some centers may mislead or confuse individuals about the services they offer.
Establishes a clear complaint and enforcement process, including investigation by the Department of Health and civil fines for noncompliance, aiming to hold crisis pregnancy centers accountable and deter deceptive practices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Crisis Center Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to women's issues
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.458
- Referred to women's issues
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Disclose Crisis Center Limits
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Deborah Glick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2264
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring disclosure by crisis pregnancy centers
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 2509 to read as follows:
§ 2509. Crisis pregnancy center; disclosure. 1. Any crisis pregnancy center shall be required to disclose to a client that when inquiring about pregnancy termination, abortion or birth control, such center will not provide such services or make a referral for such services.
2. For purposes of this section "crisis pregnancy center" means an organization whose primary purpose is to provide pregnancy counseling, assistance and/or information, whether for a fee or as a free service, but does not perform abortions or refer for abortions. "Crisis pregnancy center" does not include licensed health care providers, hospitals, family planning clinics that provide or refer for abortion and/or contraception, or family planning clinics that receive federal Title X funds.
3. The disclosure required by subdivision one of this section shall be conducted upon first communication or first contact with the client or potential client and shall be either in a written statement or oral communication by staff assisting the potential client. Such disclosure shall further be reasonably understandable to the client.
4. Any person who believes that a violation of this section has occurred may file a complaint with the department. Within thirty days of receiving such complaint, the department must investigate the complaint and determine whether a violation has occurred.
5. Any crisis pregnancy center violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil fine of not more than one hundred
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05676-01-9
S. 2264 2
dollars on the first violation and not more than two hundred fifty dollars on the second and all subsequent violations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 disclo- sure by crisis pregnancy centers
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require crisis pregnancy centers to disclose accurate and straight- forward information regarding their medical licensure, as well as offered and encouraged services.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Crisis pregnancy centers will be obligated to disclose the degree of willingness to provide services or referral to services for pregnancy termination or contraceptive services.
Section 2. Defines "crisis pregnancy centers".
Section 3. Requires that required disclosure shall be conducted upon first communication or first contact with the client.
Section 4. Provides for reportage of violation to the Department of Health and for an investigation to commence within 30 days of receiving such a complaint.
Section 5. The violation of these provisions should result in a civil fine of not more than one hundred dollars initially and not more than two hundred dollars thereafter.
Justification
The deception and misinformation that is has been previously offered by these clinics is not only unjust but potentially dangerous to a woman's health. The proposed legislation would improve a woman's ability to receive accurate and unbiased reproductive health services by obligating crisis pregnancy centers to disclose certain information about their medical certification, the type of tests used, as well as the clinic's position on abortion and contraception in regards to the clinics will- ingness to refer or perform these medical undertakings. When woman are seeking family planning and health care services, it is imperative that they are easily able to distinguish medical from non medical services and receive accurate information as well as information on family plan- ning without hassle or propaganda.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8336 (Hoylman) - Died in Health
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.