This bill amends the consumer fraud act to establish that certain deceptive practices in the advertising of crisis pregnancy centers are unlawful. Specifically, it prohibits these centers from making or disseminating any false, deceptive, or misleading statements regarding pregnancy-related services. The bill defines a crisis pregnancy center as a nonprofit facility that provides peer-related counseling services related to pregnancy and childbirth but does not offer referrals for abortion or other pregnancy-related services. It also outlines the characteristics that may cause a crisis pregnancy center to appear as a licensed health care facility, such as requiring staff to wear medical attire and collecting identifiable health information.
In addition to the prohibitions, the bill grants the Attorney General the authority to seek injunctions against crisis pregnancy centers that violate these provisions. If a center is found to be engaging in misleading practices, the Attorney General can obtain a court order to prevent the center from advertising or providing services and may require the center to take corrective actions. Violations of this act will subject the crisis pregnancy centers to the remedies and penalties outlined in the existing consumer fraud act.