Albany – Proposed law will limit the distance protesters can approach medical facilities in the county.
This law, called the Albany County Healthcare Access Protection Act, applies to: All medical facilities in the county.
The bill prohibits protesters from coming within 8 feet of anyone attempting to enter a medical facility without consent within a 50-foot radius of the front door of the medical facility. This includes trying to hand over brochures or talking to them. Violation of the ban is considered a misdemeanor under the law.
The bill was submitted by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organizationa U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year ruled that the United States has no constitutional right to abortion, meaning it overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling.
Although the bill does not specify the types of medical facilities, legislators who support the bill are committed to ensuring the safety of women seeking abortion and other reproductive health care, and to ensuring the safety of transgender individuals seeking treatments such as hormone therapy. He pointed to ensuring the safety of people as two of the main reasons. behind the bill.
Albany MP Lynne Lekakis, a Planned Parenthood volunteer and a major supporter of the bill, said Dobbs’ decision was the driving force behind the bill.
“For me, legislation began with the federal assault on women’s reproductive health, so our proposed legislation extends protections from harassment to more people seeking legal health care.” she said.
Speaker Andrew Joyce, who also sponsored the bill, said the aim was to ensure the county was a comfortable and safe place for all.
“Medical decisions are your own business and you want to make sure everyone has safe access to get that care,” he said.
At two recent committee meetings, Republican lawmakers questioned whether the bill would violate protesters’ First Amendment rights.
Democratic lawmakers and their attorneys said they followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to authorize this kind of legislation, and said the bill was modeled after similar legislation passed elsewhere.
At least 20 Democrats on the county legislature signed on as co-sponsors.
A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for Sept. 27, and Congress is likely to take up the proposal at its October meeting.
