Assemblywoman Shanique Speight’s bill providing increased protections for patients seeking reproductive health care services was signed into law by Governor Mikie Sherrill today. Bill A2218 also protects the medical professionals who provide that care.
The legislation shows New Jersey’s commitment to health care access and comes at a time when other states are taking legal action against both individuals and providers seeking and administering reproductive health care services.
“Health care decisions belong to patients and their providers,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson), who spoke at today’s bill signing ceremony in Montclair. “By establishing safeguards for those involved in the provision of reproductive health care services, this reinforces New Jersey’s commitment to ensuring access to essential care and preventing barriers that can disrupt the delivery of legally protected health services. Every individual should be able to receive reproductive health care without fear, delay, or intimidation.”
Assemblywomen Ellen Park, Annette Quijano, and Luanne Peterpaul also sponsored the legislation, which creates the new crime of “interference with reproductive health care services,” forbidding anyone from intimidating or physically obstructing a patient from accessing reproductive health care services. Bill A2218 also protects patient information and safeguards health care professionals who provide these reproductive health services.