New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Bill To Criminalize ‘Interfering’ With Abortion, Transgender Treatments

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation that would make “interfering” with access to abortion or transgender treatment a crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. On Monday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to advance A2218, which criminalizes harming, harassing, or obstructing patients or staff from entering facilities that perform abortions or provide transgender treatments. Violators could face up to 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine if their interference results in injury. The legislation also protects providers from civil or criminal penalties or extradition to states where abortion is restricted. The legislative director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, Sarah Best, testified during a committee hearing that the bill “needed to strengthen New Jersey’s existing shield protections and respond to the current reality of legal attacks on patients and providers.”“Reproductive health and gender-affirming care providers are under unique scrutiny from extremist governments and activists,” she said. The bill comes as officials in Texas and Louisiana have tried to impose civil penalties on doctors in California and New York who mailed abortion pills, despite state laws prohibiting abortion in most cases. Last year, Louisiana indicted a New York-based doctor, Margaret Carpenter, for allegedly mailing abortion pills to a West Baton Rouge woman and asked New York to extradite her so she could stand trial. New York Governor Kathy Hochul rejected the request. An anti-abortion advocacy organization, New Jersey Right to Life, raised concerns over “vague” language in the bill that criminalizes “coercion” or actions that would “cause a reasonable person to suffer” reputational harm. “New Jersey already has strong laws against violence, threats, assault, trespass, and obstruction. This provision is designed to target peaceful sidewalk counselors, prayer volunteers, and those offering help to women outside abortion facilities — activities protected by the First Amendment,” New Jersey Right to Life said in a review of the proposal. New Jersey Right to Life argued the bill “weaponizes the courts against pro-life speech, crisis pregnancy centers, and sidewalk ministry.” It said that the “mere threat of expensive litigation” will chill anti-abortion activists. The legislation was first introduced two years ago, and the New Jersey Senate passed an identical bill last month. The full Assembly could hold a final vote on the bill this week, sending it to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s desk.

New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Bill To Criminalize ‘Interfering’ With Abortion, Transgender Treatments

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