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Raise Your Voice to Strengthen Abortion Access in New York
The right to abortion is meaningless without access. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Funding Program (A361B / S348C) would create a sustainable funding mechanism for abortion providers, abortion funds, and logistical support funds — the organizations that make the right to care a reality for people seeking abortion in New York.
UPDATE, April 21, 2024: BKForge is thrilled that the FY2025 state budget includes some components of the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Funding Program (RFEF). New York has allocated $26 million for abortion providers and nonprofit organizations that provide or facilitate access to abortion care. This funding can go towards increased staffing, outreach costs, other operational needs, and covering the costs of uncompensated abortion care for those who cannot afford it. Unfortunately, the funding cannot be used for practical support or capital costs. This is a big win that will help strengthen abortion access across the state and make a real impact. Thank you to everyone in the BKForge community who took part in advocating for RFEF! We are grateful to be in this fight with all of you, and look forward to continuing to work together to advocate for all the components of RFEF and to ensure that New York lives up to its promise as an access state for everyone.
To learn more about why New York needs this funding program, read this op-ed from the Assembly bill sponsor and this op-ed from NY Reproductive Justice leaders.
Fight for Equal Rights for All New Yorkers
In November, our rights and freedoms are on the ballot. We need New York’s Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to protect all of us — including pregnant New Yorkers, women, LGBTQ+ people, those with disabilities, older adults, and people from different countries and cultures.
BKForge applauds the legislature for passing the New York Equal Rights Amendment, which will enshrine protections for New Yorkers on several grounds, including pregnancy outcomes (such as induced abortion, stillbirth, and miscarriage). This win was only made possible because advocates across the state battled tirelessly for this amendment and highlighted the urgency of its passage. Thank you to everyone in the BKForge community who joined in this fight!
But the fight is not over yet. Because this is a constitutional amendment, New Yorkers must vote for its ratification through a statewide ballot measure in November 2024. Please spread the word to all your friends and neighbors!
▼ 2024 legislative priorities ▼
Hospital Transparency Bill
UPDATE, January 24, 2024: After years of advocacy, we are THRILLED that the Hospital Transparency Act has passed the New York State Assembly and Senate! This vital bill now goes to the desk of Governor Hochul.
This important legislation will give New York the tools to identify health care deserts in the state where particular types of care are unavailable. It is incumbent on New York to collect these data and to understand the impacts of such gaps on communities and individuals statewide. Additionally, this bill will give prospective patients the information they need to determine whether the hospital(s) in their area provide the care they seek—particularly types of care that are often stigmatized, such as gender affirming care, miscarriage management, abortion, IVF, and end of life care. Too often it is difficult for patients to obtain information about how hospitals' restrictions impact options for care, even though denials of care can lead to serious adverse impacts that jeopardize people’s health and financial wellbeing. It is critical for New Yorkers to have access to this information so that they can make informed decisions about their health care prior to admission, before they are in crisis and need urgent care.
Voluntary Contribution Fund for Abortion Access
Bill numbers: A1473 / S758 (2022 bill number; still awaiting reintroduction in Senate for 2023-2024)
We call on the legislature to establish an Abortion Access Fund and permit taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to it on their state income tax return form. The money would be distributed by the Department of Health to nonprofit organizations that provide logistical and financial support to individuals who cannot afford abortion care. It is critical that the legislature take this step to support more equitable abortion access. Abortion is prohibitively expensive for many, with the average cost ranging from $523 at 10 weeks to $3,000 at 24 weeks gestation. Passing this bill would establish a mechanism for New Yorkers to help low-income people with these costs.
K-12 Comprehensive Sex Ed
Bill numbers: A4604 / S2584A (2022 bill number; still awaiting reintroduction in Senate for 2023-2024)
We call on the New York State legislature to make evidence-based, age appropriate comprehensive sex ed a priority. New York currently has no statewide learning standard for comprehensive sexuality education, which means students across the state are receiving inadequate, biased, or misleading sex ed — or none at all. Comprehensive, evidence-based, inclusive sex ed has been strongly associated with reductions in STIs, unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, and bullying of LGBTQIA+ students, as well as with improvements in academic performance. By passing this bill, New York would ensure that our young people receive age-appropriate, necessary skills to foster healthy relationships and that our educators are equipped with the professional development and tools needed to guide their students. All K-12 students in the state should have access to comprehensive sex ed led by teachers who are adequately trained and knowledgeable.
Informed Consent Act
We urge the legislature to pass the Informed Consent Act, which would require informed consent to drug test pregnant people and newborns. The bill was drafted with the input of service providers and impacted people who have been forced to submit to drug testing without informed consent. This practice can lead to forced family separation; in some cases, newborns are removed from parents before they have even been discharged from the hospital. This testing disproportionately harms Black and brown communities, who may be racially profiled by providers. To learn more, read this well-researched statement by NYCLU, the Bronx Defenders, National Advocates for Pregnant Women, Ancient Song Doula services, and others in support of the bill. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also opposes the practice of mandated or required drug testing, especially covert drug testing, for the purpose of detecting substance use.
Take action for the health and well-being of families, and share the link to encourage others to speak out in favor of informed consent.
Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act
In 2021-2022, the US saw the first annual increase in infant mortality rates in 20 years, and at a higher rate among Black women (source: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System). Currently, women of color—particularly Black women—exhibit a maternal mortality rate of 3-4 times that of Caucasian women. Evidence demonstrates that provider bias holds more responsibility for maternal illness and death in pregnancy care, as well as child outcomes, than other factors including access to health care, socioeconomic status, and physical health among Black women. However, providers in New York involved in this care are not presently required to undergo any specific implicit bias training or testing, nor does there exist a system to track incidents related to bias or stereotyping.
We urge the legislature to pass the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act, which would amend state public health law to implement an implicit bias training and follow-up program for all health care providers involved in perinatal care. It would also require hospitals to provide written information regarding patient rights, including how to seek legal counsel in case of pregnancy-related injury or death, and require information related to pregnancy to be included on death certificates if known.
Compassion and Reproductive Equity (CARE) Act
We call on the legislature to pass this bill, which would amend current correction law and create a standard of care for incarcerated pregnant and postnatal individuals and their babies. Currently, the rights of pregnant individuals are compromised by the policies and practices of correctional institutions and facilities in New York State. The CARE Act would address the health disparities faced by incarcerated pregnant individuals and guarantee pre and postnatal care for both the birthing parent and the baby.
The current standard of care is vague and limited in its scope—failing the population of pre and postnatal incarcerated individuals in New York State. The CARE Act, above all else, would ensure and protect the human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, incarcerated birthing parents of children, and their children.
Learn more from New Hour’s resources and use their form to sign on as an individual supporter.
Coverage for All
We urge the legislature to pass this bill, which would expand health insurance access for New Yorkers who are excluded from eligibility for coverage because of their immigration status. This bill would direct the Commissioner of Health to seek approval from the federal government for the use of surplus reserves in the basic health plan trust fund, which supports the New York State Essential Plan, to support individuals covered under the 1332 state innovation waiver program. The goal of the state legislation is to improve access to care by expanding eligibility for certain publicly subsidized programs for individuals who currently face barriers to health care coverage due to their immigration status.
Learn more from the #Coverage4All campaign and sign their petition in support of the bill.