Signed by Governor David Ige

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that requires limited service pregnancy centers to post notices regarding the medical accuracy of ultrasounds and the availability of low cost reproductive health care, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Requires all limited service pregnancy centers to notify patients about public programs providing free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services including but not limited to contraception and pregnancy-related services (Sec. 2).

• Requires such notice to state that ultrasounds should be  performed by qualified healthcare professionals and read by licensed clinicians in order to be considered medically accurate (Sec. 2).

• Defines a limited pregnancy center as a facility other than a health facility, such as a hospital or emergency care center, which (Sec. 2):

• Offers prenatal sonography, pregnancy tests, or pregnancy options counseling;

• Collects health information from patients; and

• Provides family planning or pregnancy-related services, including but not limited to ultrasounds, sonograms, reproductive health counseling, and prenatal care.

• Requires such notices to either be displayed on an 8.5 by 11 inch sign in the center’s waiting area or distributed individually to each patient at the time of check-in  (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits pregnancy centers from disclosing personally identifiable health information to any individual or entity without express written permission from the client (Sec. 2).

• Requires a written summary of results in English to be given to all patients who receive a pregnancy test after the test is completed (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that first-time violations by a pregnancy center will be fined $500 and all subsequent violations will carry a fine of $1000 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text