Action Needed!

January 3, 2022

Update—Please act before Monday, January 10, 2022:

Due to the New Jersey Legislature’s inability to advance S3030/A4848 the “Reproductive Freedom Act,” it is now attempting to hasten a replacement version of the bill - - S49/A6260 - - through the legislative process. If passed, this bill would codify into state law an individual’s “fundamental” right to an abortion, including late-term abortions.

Although S49/A6260 is not called the “Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA),” it does include nearly all the provisions of RFA, including:

Explicitly guaranteeing to every individual the right to reproductive autonomy, effectively declaring that children in the womb have no rights under New Jersey law. This would allow for abortions at any time and for any reason, up until birth.

Allowing non-physician healthcare professionals to perform abortion services.

The potential to force New Jersey’s healthcare workers with moral, religious, or ethical objections to perform or participate in abortions.

The prohibition of future enactment of laws and regulations that attempt to restrict abortions or do not conform with the provisions and purposes of S49/A6260.

The New Jersey Catholic Conference expects the bill to be scheduled for a vote in both the Senate and General Assembly on Monday January 10, 2022, only four days after being introduced to the Senate for the first time on January 6, 2022.

We urge you to contact your state elected officials immediately and ask them to vote NO on S49/A6260.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:

https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/66xG7fiDKDQiQimt0fSRZg

Original Post:

The NJ Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848) was introduced in the Senate and Assembly on October 8, 2020. Because the bill was too extreme even for some pro-choice legislators, they are attempting to revise it, and want to hold a hearing and a vote this Thursday, January 6.

The NJ Reproductive Freedom Act is an extreme bill that will allow abortions up until birth, removes conscience protections for medical professionals, and bills the taxpayers for abortions. In addition, it has a provision that prohibits any future law that conflicts with any provision of this bill, closing any avenue for correction at a later time.

Listed below are some of the provisions in the bill.

Explicitly guarantees, to every individual, the fundamental right to reproductive autonomy, which includes the right to contraception, the right to abortion and the right to carry a pregnancy to term.” Codifies 1982 NJ Supreme Court Decision, Right to Choose v. Byrne which protects the right to abortion and exceeds protections established under the U.S. Constitution. The bill will apply to all residents “and those who come to this state” including those who are incarcerated, and those who are here illegally.
Abortions will be allowed throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy. The bill says “a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under the laws of this state.”
Invalidates existing laws and prohibits the future adoption of all laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, resolutions, policies, standards or parts thereof, that conflict with the provisions of the bill. Expressly invalidates all rules and regulations promulgated by the NJ Board of Medical Examiners which regulate and apply exclusively to termination of pregnancy. This will also invalidate NJ’s conscience clause which has been in effect since 1973 which protects the right of individuals to refuse to perform or assist in abortion procedures.
Permits non- physicians to perform abortions. Under the bill, qualified health care professionals licensed under Title 45 can provide abortions services in the state. Defines health care professional as “person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to provide health care services, including, but not limited to a physician, advance practice nurse, physician assistant, certified midwife or certified nurse midwife. “
Exempts prosecution for individuals “terminating or attempting to terminate the individual’s own pregnancy; or acting or failing to act in any manner, with respect to the individual’s own pregnancy, based on the potential or actual impact on the individual’s own health or pregnancy.” Further, the bill “eliminates the requirement that a medicolegal death investigation be conducted in a case where a fetal death occurs without medical attendance.” This language will grant immunity from prosecution for cases, including, but not limited to the Prom Mom, where infants have been born alive and left to die, or through a deliberate act, are killed.
Mandates annual allocation of taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood under Title X in the state budget.
Requires all insurance carriers to provide coverage for abortions and expands coverage for contraceptives to a long term (12 month) supply. Religious employers could request an exclusion if the required coverage conflicts with the religious employer’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices.

Please click on the blue hyperlink below to Oppose this bill:
Action Needed to Oppose the NJ Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848)