Assembly bill – 861 – Targets Pregnancy Resource Centers for not referring for abortions
This bill infringes upon the religious and free speech rights of pregnancy care centers, restricting their ability to provide free services to the community. The proposed legislation appears to be a politically motivated indictment against religious non-profits because they do not perform or refer for abortion, and seeks to target their speech and limit the services they offer due to state opposition. This bill is unlikely to withstand the “strict scrutiny” required when the government infringes upon the constitutional rights of individuals and religious organizations. It will further perpetuate the misuse of power by the New Jersey Attorney General to bring lawsuits against pregnancy resource centers to impose civil penalties in hopes of restricting their ability to serve women facing a crisis pregnancy that need their support.
Assembly bill 3418 – Enters NJ in Women’s Abortion State Compact
It endangers women by potentially shielding human traffickers, as it restricts the investigation of individuals involved in providing or obtaining abortion services, including underage minors from other states who may be brought here by their abusers for the purpose of abortion.
Article 4 (a): A member state shall work with other member states to: prevent the extradition or investigation of an individual or entity involved in the provision or receipt of women’s reproductive health care services;
It puts women at risk by allowing those who perform abortions to avoid licensing and financial accountability for damages, injuries, or harm caused by failing to meet the appropriate standard of care.
Article 4 (c): prevent negative licensing actions or malpractice insurance increases and clawback lawsuits against individuals or entities for the provision or receipt of women’s reproductive health care services
Assembly bill 4915 – Abortion Travel Advisory
State taxes would be used to fund an unnecessary travel advisory, misleading pregnant women against traveling to certain states due to their state’s abortion laws. However, the reason for the Warning Levels outlined in the bill do not exist at any level in any state, rendering this legislation ineffective. States with gestational limits on abortion, do not authorize the charging or conviction of criminal offense of a woman in the death of her unborn child due to an abortion. Therefore, the language defining each advisory level in this bill is based on false information. A4915 endangers women’s lives by fostering confusion and misrepresenting the options available to pregnant women during medical emergencies.
