Legislation Introduced Related To HPV Vaccine, Abortion, Drug Use During Pregnancy In Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, Mississippi, Virginia

The following highlights recent news on state actions regarding legislation on human papillomavirus vaccines, abortion and drug use during pregnancy.

HPV Vaccines

• Indiana: Thirteen female state senators -- seven Democrats and six Republicans -- recently introduced a bill (SB 327) that would say girls entering the sixth grade should receive a human papillomavirus vaccine, the Indianapolis Star reports (Hupp, Indianapolis Star, 1/18). The legislation states that students "may not be prevented from enrolling in, attending or graduating from school for the sole reason that the student has not been immunized" against HPV vaccine. The measure would require every school beginning in the 2008-2009 school year to report how many girls have been vaccinated (SB 327 text, 1/23). Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil in clinical trials has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in July 2006 voted unanimously to recommend that girls ages 11 and 12 receive the vaccine (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/12). Opponents of the measure have said the vaccine might encourage promiscuity and have criticized the estimated $2.7 million cost for the vaccine during the 2008-2009 school year (Indianapolis Star, 1/18).
  
  
• Nevada: State lawmakers recently introduced more than 70 bills relating to health care in the 2007 legislative session, including a bill that would require health insurance plans to cover Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. Currently, health plans operating in the state are required to cover birth control pills and mammograms, the Sun reports. The bill that would require insurers to cover the vaccine is sponsored by state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus (D), (Fehd, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 1/20).

Abortion Regulations

• Mississippi: State lawmakers recently introduced several abortion-related measures, including a bill (H 670) that would ban all abortions in the state except to save the life of the pregnant woman. Under the legislation, sponsored by state Reps. Deryk Parker (D) and Mike Lott (R), performing an abortion would be a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to one year in prison. Another measure (H 1241) would ban all abortions in the state if Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 Supreme Court decision that effectively barred state abortion bans -- is overturned. Legislation (SC 531) recently introduced by state Sen. Joey Fillingane (R) would place on the November ballot a state constitutional amendment that says "nothing in the Constitution shall be construed as granting to any person the right to choose to have an abortion." If state senators do not pass an abortion ban, State Senate Public Health Committee Chair Alan Nunnelee (R) said he aims to gain approval for a bill (S 2801) that would require abortion providers to give women seeking abortion a chance to hear the fetus' heartbeat and view a sonogram of the fetus before undergoing the procedure (Mohr, AP/Biloxi Sun Herald, 1/21).
  
  
• Virginia: State lawmakers and advocates who support abortion rights on Thursday called for the approval of a bill (HB 2221) that would define birth control as an FDA-approved contraceptive method, not a form of abortion, the AP/Newport News Daily Press reports. The legislation, sponsored by state Delegate Kristen Amundson (D) states that birth control "shall not be considered abortion." According to the AP/Daily Press, emergency contraception, which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after intercourse, is included in the list of FDA-approved contraceptives. According to the AP/Daily Press, legislation introduced in previous sessions that would have defined contraception was not approved because of wording disputes. In related news, the state House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee on Thursday voted 9-6 to approve a measure (HB 1883) that would require clinics that perform abortions to be licensed by the state and abide by requirements for ambulatory surgery centers (O'Dell, AP/Newport News Daily Press, 1/18).

Drug Use During Pregnancy

• Idaho: State Sen. Denton Darrington (R) plans to reintroduce a bill that would make methamphetamine or other drug use by a pregnant woman a felony punishable by up to five years in jail and a $50,000 fine, the AP/Twin Falls Times-News reports (AP/Twin Falls Times-News, 1/20). The measure would also allow women to take part in the state's drug-court system, which attempts to help drug users who commit crimes to stop using drugs (AP/Twin Falls Times-News, 1/20). Darrington introduced a similar measure (SB 1337) last year that would have allowed authorities to take custody of an infant if the woman tested positive for drugs at birth (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/20/06). Some pediatricians opposed last year's measure because of fear that it will lead to less prenatal care and more abortions, according to the AP/Times-News. In an attempt to relieve those concerns, Darrington said he plans to meet with state Rep. Jim Clark (R), chair of the state House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do. I don't know how much I can change it," Darrington said (AP/Twin Falls Times-News, 1/20).

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