Pregnancy crisis centers often are operated by abortion opponents, and critics say workers imply the facilities provide a range of medical care and have credentials they do not possess.
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The notice, which the law specifies must either be posted as a public notice in “22-point type”, “distributed to all clients in no less than 14-point font” or distributed digitally “at the time of check-in or arrival”, applies to all of the entities-even those licensed by the state. Informing patients of where they can get abortions “directly violates the foundational religious principles” of the centers, they say, infringing on their 1st Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion.
Chiu contends that, unfortunately, “there are almost 200 licensed and unlicensed clinics known as crisis pregnancy centres (CPCs) in California whose goal is to interfere with women’s ability to be fully informed and exercise their reproductive rights, and that CPCs pose as full-service women’s health clinics, but aim to discourage and prevent women from seeking abortions”.
Two non-profit crisis pregnancy centers have filed lawsuits in an effort to halt a new California law that will require licensed clinics to provide women with information about abortions – a provision that is set to take effect in January.
The measure also requires the centers to notify patients that California has programs to help them access affordable family planning, abortion services and prenatal care. Most services are usually free.
ACTION: Contact Governor Jerry Brown here to complain about him signing the bill.
Meanwhile, under the new law, pregnancy help centers that do not offer medical services will be required to post the following signage in two “clear and conspicuous” places-“in the entrance of the facility and at least one additional area where clients wait to receive services”, as well as in “any print and digital advertising materials including Internet Web sites”.
“This bill is nothing short of a state-sponsored attack on women by the highly profitable abortion industry”, Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., president of Heartbeat worldwide, which has 45 of its almost 2,000 affiliates in California, said.
The bill had sat on Gov. Brown’s desk since passing a party-line vote in the Democrat-controlled State Senate September 4.
“So why is it okay for the government to force pro-life pregnancy centers against their will to advertise and promote government abortion services?” she asked.
On Monday, in response to the lawsuit suing her as a co-sponsor, Harris vowed to defend the FACT Act.
Backers of the law argued it was crafted to address concerns raised by courts elsewhere, which have blocked a few local attempts to require centers to disclose information about whether they provide referrals for abortion, emergency contraception or prenatal care.
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“This is what it looks like to respect women: Empower us and trust us to make the best decisions for ourselves and our families”, Amy Everitt, director of NARAL Pro-Choice California, said in a statement. The law confers enforcement authority on the state attorney general, county counsels and city attorneys.
