Colorado, Oregon, North Dakota, Virginia Take Actions On Abortion, EC Access, Sex Education

The following highlights recent news of state actions on sex education programs, emergency contraception access and abortion.

Abortion Regulations

• North Dakota: The House on Friday voted 61-26 to pass a measure (HB 1466) that would ban all abortions in the state except to save the life of the pregnant woman, the Fargo Forum reports. The legislation would go into effect only if Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 Supreme Court decision that effectively barred state abortion bans -- is overturned (Cole, Fargo Forum, 1/27). The bill would make performing an abortion punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. In addition, the bill would give parents of pregnant minors and partners of pregnant women the right to file suit to stop an abortion (Wetzel, Associated Press, 1/26). The House on Friday also voted 69-20 to reject legislation (HB 1489) that would have charged anyone who performs an abortion and the pregnant woman with murder. Another bill (HB 1464) that would have added medical abortion drugs to state abortion regulations and added regulations for physicians who perform abortions and their assistants was rejected by a 49-39 vote. The House also voted 60-29 to reject a bill (HB 1494) that would have banned the use of public funds for genetic testing of a fetus unless the funds were used to provide medical treatment to the fetus or pregnant woman. The legislation also would have prohibited insurers from compelling a woman to undergo genetic testing of her fetus or to undergo an abortion based on the results of genetic testing (Fargo Forum, 1/27).
  
  
• Virginia: The House on Friday voted 71-27 to approve a measure (HB 1665) that would make forcing, coercing or intimidating pregnant women into having an abortion a misdemeanor, the Washington Post reports. Forcing, coercing or intimidating pregnant minors into having an abortion would be a felony, according to the measure (Craig, Washington Post, 1/27). Anyone who violates the legislation, which does not define illegal coercion, could face one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. If the pregnant girl is younger than age 18, violators could face up to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine. The bill now moves to the state Senate, which historically has not voted on abortion legislation, the Washington Examiner reports (Rogalsky, Washington Examiner, 1/27).

Emergency Contraception

• Colorado: The Senate on Monday gave initial approval to a bill (SB 60) that would require hospitals in the state to inform rape survivors about the availability of emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse -- the Denver Post reports. The bill -- sponsored by state Sen. Betty Boyd (D) -- would require all hospitals, including Catholic institutions, to inform sexual assault survivors about the availability of EC, the Post reports. The measure also would allow pharmacists who object to EC on moral grounds to decline to prescribe it; however, the hospital would have to find someone on staff to relay the information (Clausing, Denver Post, 1/29). The measure must be read for a third time in the state Senate before it can be sent to the House, the AP/Longmont Daily Times-Call reports (AP/Longmont Daily Times-Call, 1/29). If the measure passes, Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is expected to sign it into law (Denver Post, 1/29).

Sex Education

• Oregon: Public school districts will be considering state Department of Education comprehensive sex education standards, which took effect this month and promote abstinence and contraception use, the Oregonian reports. The education department for the past several years has been urging public school districts to take a comprehensive approach to sex education. Several districts, including the North Clackamas School District and Beaverton School District, already have approved a sex education curriculum that teaches students about "sexual health concepts," as well as skills "to make good decisions under pressure," according to the Oregonian. North Clackamas schools include abstinence and peer-pressure resistance messages in the eighth-grade curriculum and role plays about contraception and condom use in the high school curriculum. Teachers also can answer questions about abortion, homosexuality, some sexual acts and pornography. The North Clackamas School Board earlier this month also approved an eighth-grade lesson on how to put on a condom. Some Oregon school districts are expected to consider the state sex education standards over the next two years as they adopt new textbooks, materials and programs for the upcoming school year (Pardington, Oregonian, 1/29).

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