Reproductive Justice Task Force
The past year continues to be very challenging for advocates in the reproductive justice movement. The task force however, has good news to report. We had real success in the legislature. Our nearly 3 year effort working on the UU Faith Action NJ signature legislation resulted in the bill being signed into law by Governor Murphy on July 19, 2019. The bill expanded address confidentiality for clinic employees, volunteers and clients and assured that reproductive health care services, especially abortion care remains safe and accessible in NJ. California is the only other state with a bill to protect abortion clinic workers.
There were other bills passed that we had been monitoring
- With the Criminal Justice Task Force we worked for the passage of a bill restricting solitary confinement in NJ prisons. The bill was signed and became law on July 11, 2019.
- The Time Is Now coalition supported legislation to extend the statute of limitations for civil cases involving sexual assault. The bill was signed by Governor Murphy and goes into effect in December. It allows victims of child sexual abuse the ability to sue their abusers up until they turn 55, or within seven years of their realization that the abuse caused them harm.
- Maternal Mortality Review Committee was signed into law by Gov. Murphy on May 1. New Jersey’s maternal mortality rate is almost double the national average, with 37.3 pregnancy-associated or pregnancy-related deaths for every 100,000 live births. New Jersey’s maternal mortality rates are alarming, and for women and infants of color the statistics are even more distressing,” added First Lady Tammy Murphy, who called the bill signing “a critical step forward in combating the maternal and infant health crisis. “
Legislation currently being monitored
- The national administration proposed changes to Title X. The changes would not allow reproductive health care providers to discuss the full range of pregnancy care options including abortion (the Gag Rule). The law has been implemented pending court rulings. Planned Parenthood has announced that they will not follow this ruling; hence they will forfeit federal Title X funds. There are bills before the NJ legislature (S4103/A5802) to restore the funds. The task force has monitored Dignity for incarcerated Primary Caregivers Act, a bundle of bills that incorporate giving parents time with their children, ban use of shackles for pregnant women and provide other appropriate care. There are also sexual assault bills to protect women in prison that will be bundled. The task force is supporting establishing a temporary coalition to advocate for the passage of these bills.
- The task force continues to play a role in THRVE NJ, the coalition supporting reproductive health rights and justice. Task force members are active participants in the full coalition, the sex education subcommittee, the abortion access subcommittee and the new Interfaith Coalition subcommittee.
- A particular issue of Thrive NJ has been to offer Communication and Messaging through Planned Parenthood staff. Legislators and advocates including several members of the task force have been trained in how to communicate clearly about abortion care. We plan to offer training to other UUs in the state in early 2020. The first part will be a review of abortion care, especially in the second and early third trimesters. The second part of the training will be Communication and Messaging about abortion care.
Legislative Goals 2019-2020
- Access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion care by working with coalitions who are introducing legislation in NJ.
- Strengthen maternal health and reduce maternal mortality including supporting the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
- Dignity for incarcerated Primary Caregivers Act, a bundle of bills that incorporate giving parents time with their children, bans the use of shackles for pregnant women and provide appropriate mental health and substance abuse care.
- Form a temporary coalition to bundle bills related to preventing & supporting sexual assault survivors including reporting and investigating sexual assault inside the prisons.