This bill aims to enhance protections for patients and providers involved in reproductive health and gender-affirming care services in New Jersey. It establishes the right for residents and visitors to access these services safely, defining key terms such as "legally protected health care activity" and "gender-affirming health care services." The legislation amends existing laws to ensure that health care providers are not penalized for offering services that are legal in New Jersey, even if they are illegal in other jurisdictions. It prohibits the use of state resources to assist in investigations or legal actions from other states that seek to impose penalties on individuals for engaging in legally protected health care activities.

Additionally, the bill introduces the crime of "interference with reproductive or gender-affirming health care services," which includes actions like inflicting bodily harm, obstructing access to facilities, and unauthorized recording of individuals. It categorizes these offenses into varying degrees of crime, with penalties ranging from disorderly persons offenses to second-degree crimes for significant bodily injury. The bill also allows for civil actions against offenders, empowering victims to seek damages and injunctive relief. Furthermore, it prohibits extradition for actions related to legally protected health care activities and ensures that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under state law, reinforcing New Jersey's commitment to safeguarding reproductive rights and access to health care services.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45:1-22, 2A:160-14.1, 2A:84A-22.18, 2A:84A-22.19, 10:7-2, 26:6B-10