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Newsletter: July 2003: Legislative Update
New York City: Increased Access to EC for Rape Victims
Thanks to Planned Parenthood of NYC for providing the following report.
On February 26, 2003, the New York City Council passed three bills that will increase access to EC (emergency contraception) in New York City:
- Intro. 278 will require all NYC pharmacies that do not stock EC pills to conspicuously post at the counter where prescription drugs are sold signs informing customers about the pharmacy’s failure to sell EC.
- Intro. 281 will require all NYC hospitals that provide emergency treatment to rape survivors to counsel and offer EC on site.
- Intro 285 will require the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to make EC pills available at all NYC Department of Health STI clinics.
Mayor Bloomberg signed Intro 285 but vetoed the other two bills. On April 9th, the City Council, by an overwhelming majority, overrode the Mayor’s veto of the two other bills. All three bills are now law in New York City.
New York State: Sweeping Legislative Victory in 2003
In a late night, end-of-year session, the New York State Senate and Assembly quickly passed two bills, and Governor Pataki has promised to sign them as well. The new legislation is a victory for rape victims in New York State.
- S.A.R.A. Clean-Up: This bill represents a number of victories for survivors and service providers. First, it takes a financial burden off of the survivor’s shoulders by stopping the practice of making rape victims responsible for payment of a medical/forensic examination after a rape. Hospitals will be able to bill the New York State Crime Victims Board directly for these costs and be assured of payment for these services. Second, it provides the “clean-up” of the Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2000 by creating harsher penalties for offenders, and replacing outdated language such as “deviate sexual intercourse” and “sodomy” to describe sex crimes – terms which made it difficult for victims to talk about their experiences in court.
- Emergency Contraception: This bill will ensure that a survivor’s choices will no longer depend on which hospital she goes to for treatment. The bill mandates that hospitals provide victims with the information and medication on site to prevent a pregnancy resulting from the rape.
(Read
other articles in this series.)
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