Actions Taken On Women's Health-Related Legislation, Programs In Arizona, Maryland, Wisconsin

The following highlights recent news of state and local actions on women's health-related issues.

Emergency Contraception
Wisconsin: Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D) on Tuesday said she plans to reintroduce legislation that would require hospitals to inform rape victims that emergency contraception is highly effective at preventing pregnancy and dispense EC if survivors requested it, the AP/LaCrosse Tribune reports. According to the legislation, hospitals that refused to follow the mandate would face sanctions from the state. Democrats have failed to gather enough support to pass similar legislation introduced in at least the last three legislative sessions, the AP/Tribune reports. Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R) said he has not taken a stance on the bill and could not predict its chances for passage in the House. EC can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after intercourse (AP/LaCrosse Tribune, 3/6).

Prenatal Care
Arizona: The Senate Appropriations Committee last week unanimously approved a bill (SB 1361) that would require the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System to provide no-cost prenatal care to women whose household incomes are below 185% of the federal poverty level, the Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Star reports. State law now requires the system to cover prenatal care cost to women whose household incomes are below 133% of the poverty level. The legislation would make about 2,700 more women eligible for no-cost care annually. According to legislative aides, the program would cost about $4.4 million if 20% of eligible women enroll and would cost about $17.7 million if 80% of eligible women enroll. Sen. Barbara Leff (R), who is co-sponsoring the legislation, said the bill eventually would save the state money because providing prenatal care to more women would reduce costs related to preterm births and childbirth-related complications. The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration (Fischer, Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Star, 2/28).

Sex Education
Maryland: Montgomery County, Md., Public Schools on Tuesday began a pilot program at a middle school in the district for a new sex education curriculum that teaches eighth- and 10th-grade students about sexual and gender identity issues and that includes a condom demonstration video, the Washington Post reports (de Vise, Washington Post, 3/7). The Montgomery County Board of Education in January voted 8-0 to approve the curriculum for the program, which includes two 45-minute classes for eighth-grade students and three 45-minute classes for 10th-grade students. Only students whose parents have provided written consent can participate in the lessons (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/11). The program, which began on Tuesday at Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring, Md., is scheduled to begin at five schools by the end of the month and throughout the district by the fall (Washington Post, 3/7). The groups Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, Family Leader Network and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays on Feb. 7 filed a petition against implementation of the curriculum with the Maryland State Board of Education (de Vise [1], Washington Post, 3/8). The groups also sought to halt the pilot program, but Maryland Superintendent Nancy Grasmick on Wednesday denied the request (Marech, Baltimore Sun, 3/8). Grasmick in the five-page order also told the education board to rule by July on whether the curriculum should be implemented district-wide. The groups claim that the "content of the lessons is inherently harmful because it violates their First Amendment rights," Grasmick wrote, adding, "I have read the lessons, and I am not convinced of the certainty of such violations. I am convinced, however, of the value of going forward with the field test" (de Vise [2], Washington Post, 3/8).














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