New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she plans to propose legislation that would protect the privacy of people who seek abortion care, regardless of whether they live in the state.
(Bloomberg) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she plans to propose legislation that would protect the privacy of people who seek abortion care, regardless of whether they live in the state.
The Democratic governor used her State of the State address Tuesday to reiterate her commitment to protecting reproductive rights, saying that “as other states continue to slide backwards when it comes to basic and fundamental rights, we will protect and enshrine those rights here in New York.”
The proposed legislation would protect people’s location and search history, Hochul said. She also said her office would work with colleges and universities in the State University of New York and the City University of New York systems to either provide medication abortion to students at their health centers, or partner with local facilities that can provide abortion care.
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The promises follow similar commitments made by Hochul and other Democratic governors to protect abortion access. Following the leak of the Supreme Court opinion draft for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in May, Hochul pledged $35 million to protect abortion-care facilities and providers. California in October passed a law that further protects the data of non-residents who seek abortion care in the state.
Hochul’s pledges also come two months after she defeated Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, a Long Island congressman who has in the past voted to block Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds, and who praised the Dobbs decision when it was announced. In the weeks prior to the the November election, Zeldin pledged not to challenge New York’s existing abortion access laws.
There were 63,142 abortions in New York in 2020, including 37,523 procedures in New York City, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show.
Hochul also said she would propose legislation allowing pharmacists to directly prescribe medication abortion to people who need it. The Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 3 said it would allow certified pharmacies to distribute the pill, which is safer than Tylenol and is approved for use within the first 10 weeks of gestation.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and CVS Health Corp. have said they would seek certification for pharmacies in states where medication abortion is legal and doesn’t face additional restrictions.
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