Abortion Protections For Out-Of-Staters Advance In NJ Legislature

NEW JERSEY — State legislative committees advanced several bills Monday that would protect out-of-state residents seeking abortions in New Jersey. But while the legislation would help defend non-New Jerseyans from criminality and lawsuits, a bill that would eliminate costs for many getting the procedure wasn't up for consideration.

In the wake of Friday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the constitutional right to an abortion, 26 states have outlawed the procedure or will prohibit it soon. Texas, Oklahoma and Idaho also enacted laws allowing citizen-actors to sue anybody who assists patients with abortions, from health professionals to someone driving them to seek the care.

New Jersey anticipates a growing demand for abortions following the reversal of the Roe v. Wade ruling. As a result, legislative committees advanced two bills that would help protect abortion patients from out-of-state punishment.

One of the bills would prohibit New Jersey authorities from extraditing a person to another state if they're prosecuted for crimes relating to reproductive-health services.

The other measure would protect the privacy of patients' medical records if they received an abortion of other reproductive care in the state. The bill also prohibits any state agency or employee from responding to intrastate investigations involving abortions or other reproductive care.

An original version of the bill would've allowed a person sued from another state for helping someone obtain an abortion, to countersue and seek damages of their own. But the lawsuit portion was eliminated after officials in Gov. Phil Murphy's office and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General reviewed it, according to NJ Advance Media.

The full State Senate is set to consider both measures Wednesday, while the extradition bill is on the Assembly's agenda for the same day. But one measure remained absent from committee considerations Monday: a bill that would require health-insurance plans to fully cover abortions, while appropriating $20 million toward a Reproductive Health Access Fund.

The plan to fully cover abortion costs was arguably Murphy's most ambitious proposal to strengthen abortion access in the wake of the Supreme Court's leaked Roe opinion last month. But bills that would do so were only introduced last week and haven't gained momentum in the State Legislature.

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ called the legislation essential.

"Rights without access are meaningless," said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, the chapter's vice president of public affairs. "There is much more to do in New Jersey to ensure that everyone — regardless of income, insurance coverage, or immigration status — can access the care they need to make their own personal decisions about their bodies and their lives."

Several legislative Republicans in New Jersey praised the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

"I believe in the sanctity of life. I also believe in medical science," said State Senate Republican Leader Steven Oroho. "Looking at the laws governing abortion in New Jersey, I believe we should follow the most up-to-date science when determining viability and legislate accordingly. I call on my colleagues from both parties to begin a bipartisan discussion on reforming New Jersey’s laws."