BILL NUMBER: S135
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to providing practi-
cal support for access to abortion care
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that those who need access to comprehensive health care choic-
es are provided practical support to actually access the services.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends the existing "reproductive freedom and equity grant program" to
ensure that those seeking healthcare may be provided practical support
in the form of financial assistance for the means to receive care such
as transportation, etc.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
With the Supreme Court overturning the right to abortion care, New York
must respond to the dramatically shifting national landscape of abortion
access. This bill adds to the existing Reproductive Freedom Equity Fund
by adding support for the practical support needs for individuals facing
barriers to abortion care.
Abortion is essential health care, a service that one in four women of
reproductive age will obtain in their lifetime. In 2019, New York
affirmed the right of an individual to access abortion care here in New
York. However, we know, a right is meaningless if one cannot exercise
it. This legislation is a necessary extension of the legislatures work
to protect the right to abortion here in New York.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New proposal In 2025.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To Be Arrived Upon.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S135: 2599-bb-1 public health law, 2599-bb-1(1) public health law, 2599-bb-1(3) public health law