Reproductive Health Act explained

Jan. 22--Today marks 46 years since Roe v. Wade was decided, extending access to abortion to the entire country.

In New York state, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins have promised to pass the Reproductive Health Act, to enshrine abortion rights in New York state law and remove abortion from criminal law.

The push has received support from Democratic party notables, including former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton who appeared with the governor and majority leader to support the bill.

"The Reproductive Health Act has been a priority of his for many years, and last summer when Congress confirmed a Supreme Court justice that wants to turn back the clock on women's rights, Governor Cuomo sent an unmistakable message that New Yorkers are not going back without a fight," said Mrs. Clinton. "He called on the Legislature to pass this critical legislation within the first 30 days, and I'm encouraged to see everyone working to do just that."

The Reproductive Health Act has been previously passed by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, but failed in the until-recently Republican controlled Senate. On Jan.9, the legislation was re-introduced and is expected to pass soon.

The law includes several provisions. The first sets the right to abortion in state law by adding a new article to the public health law. It reads, in part, "it is the policy of the state that: 1. Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization. 2. Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion."

Much of the rest of the law removes abortion from the criminal code -- for example, from a list of class B felonies and from a list of causes of death to be investigated by coroners.

The Legislature is also looking to pass the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, which requires insurance plans to cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved forms of contraception, with exceptions for religious organizations.

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