We need everyone at the Capitol this Thursday starting at 10:30AM

Join Family Institute of Connecticut and pro-lifers this Thursday starting at 10:30 AM and throughout the day, to stand witness with legislators as they fight HB7213 – a bill that will repeal all reporting requirements that capture existing racial disparities with abortion (HB7213(3) repealing sec. 19-13-D54(b)), erase conscience protections for medical students, doctors, nurses and all persons forced to participate in abortion (HB7213(3) and sec. 19-13-D54(f)), and also delete a regulation that requires infants born alive to receive measures promoting life (HB7213(3) and sec. 19-13-D54(g)). There will also be an amendment and a vote to require minors, particularly those under age 16, to notify their parents of an abortion, with exceptions.

Park at the Legislative Office Building parking garage (there are 2 levels) or the surrounding area and meet our staff in the atrium of the Legislative Office Building (you need to walk outside and come through the main entrance and go through security). There, you will be given a sticker or a t-shirt and instructions on where to go at the State Capitol Building (a short indoor walk). Then you will bear witness for the unborn and maybe get to meet your legislators and ask them to oppose HB7213, and here is why.

Come to the Capitol on Thursday and CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS.

We don’t always ask our people to call their legislators, but we are at that moment. We need you to call your legislators and ask them to oppose HB7213. Your legislator and their phone number can be found HERE. Please also e-mail them HERE. Call your legislator, introduce yourself as their constituent, and ask them to oppose HB7213 because it repeals reporting requirements of racial disparities in abortion, repeals requirements to provide care to infants born alive and repeals conscience protections against participating in abortion.

Weirdly, HB7213 also could unintentionally expand the enforcement of “viability” restrictions and further restrict abortion in Connecticut.

Because of how it is drafted, HB7213 will also delete the Department of Health’s standard of no abortion except for “life and health of patient” starting at “third trimester” at 28 weeks gestation. That is less restrictive than statute 19a-602’s “viability” standard, which arguably kicks in at 22-24 weeks and will remain state law.

Specifically, section (h) of 19-13-D54 of the regulations of the Connecticut State Agencies states “During the third trimester of pregnancy, abortions may be performed only when necessary to preserve the life for health of the expectant mother.” This will be deleted and 19a-602(b) will remain, which states “No abortion may be performed upon a patient after viability of the fetus except when necessary to preserve the life or health of the patient.” This regulation applies to all abortions in Connecticut, not just those performed in “outpatient clinics” or “outpatient surgical centers”.

When the regulation section (h) is deleted with HB7213, viability will only be defined by the statutory subsection (b). State law will restrict abortions at viability, not just at the third trimester. The Department’s regulation was enacted when viability was medically considered to be around when the 3rd trimester began, but we know, because of medical advancements, viability is now as low as 24 weeks, possibly 22. This bill could actually expand enforcement of Connecticut’s current law restricting abortion for only “life and health of the patient” from 28 weeks, down to about 24 or less.

And Planned Parenthood’s opinion on when viability begins won’t matter. What will matter is the case made to the Department of Public Health and the licensing of abortionists. We at Family Institute of Connecticut Action and our legal allies will be ready to provide evidence to the Department of Public Health and every legal venue we have access to, that abortion restrictions in CT begin at viability (22 weeks) not just when the third trimester starts (28 weeks).

But wait, there is more . . .

Abortion clinics may need to be licensed as “outpatient surgical facilities” – which are more heavily regulated than “outpatient clinics”. HB7213(4) will delete 19a-116 which artificially indicates that abortions can be performed in “outpatient clinics”. Sec. 19a-116, Regulation of facilities which offer abortion services states . . “The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, establishing standards to control and ensure the quality of medical care provided to any pregnant woman undergoing an induced abortion at any outpatient clinic regulated under the Public Health Code. Such standards shall include . . . .” Once 19a-116 is deleted, places where induced abortions are performed would naturally need to be licensed as “outpatient surgical facilities” in CGS 19a-493b, because of the “moderate sedation” they provide and because they won’t have the artificial designation under 19a-116.

When they seek relicensing, Family Institute of Connecticut Action and other interested parties will be ready to petition the Connecticut Health Department’s Office of Health Equity and the Department’s partnership with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to review Planned Parenthood of Southern New England’s compliance with prohibitions against discriminatory outcomes during any re-licensing process.