In Our State
2009 Legislative Outlook 2009 promises to be a very tough year for the pro-choice movement in Arizona. The departure of Governor Janet Napolitano for a cabinet position leaves the state with an anti-choice house, senate and governor. For the past six years, we relied on Gov. Napolitano to veto the egregious anti-choice bills that the legislative branch sent to her desk each year. This year, House and Senate Republicans are looking to make up for lost time by pushing though severe, far-reaching and extremely drastic pieces of legislation that do more to limit choice than the all of the bills proposed in the last 10 years combined! With new Govornor Jan Brewer itching to sign anti-choice legislation into law, these bills are the most dangerous threat to reproductive freedom we have faced in years. NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona is committed to defeating these bills, but we cannot do it alone. We need every advocate for reproductive freedom to get involved if we hope to combat those who seek to limit our right to choose! There are a number of things you can do to help. TAKE ACTION! 2009 Legislation Summary PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST CURRENT LEGISLATIVE UPDATES! HB 2400/SB 1138: Late Term Abortions This bill mirrors the federal late-term abortion ban that was implemented country-wide in 2007. This is the same bill that former Governor Napolitano rejected twice during the 2008 legislative session, calling it an unnecessary piece of legislation that interjects state government in the relationship between a woman and her physician. For more information on this bill click here HB 2564: Abortion This bill is the anti-abortion kitchen sink, it has a little bit of everything, 24 hour mandatory waiting periods, harsher restrictions on parental consent, service provider opt out, and biased government scripted and mandated counseling prior to an abortion procedure. HB 2554: Abortion; nurses prohibition This bill would prohibit nurses and nurse practitioners from providing surgical abortion services. HB 2544: Sex Education This bill would mandate comprehensive, medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education be taught in Arizona schools. 2008 Legislative Summary HB 2263: Restrictions to Young Women’s Access to Abortion
HB 2263 would have restricted minor’s access to abortion services even further. The bill outlined specific criteria for judges to use in determining whether a minor was mature enough to obtain an abortion without her parent or guardian’s express permission.
Gov. Napolitano also vetoed this bill, citing earlier legislation that “already sets forth the clear and convincing standard for proof of the judicial bypass of the parental consent requirement.” HB 2269: Physician’s Only Requirements
HB 2269 was a bill written to prohibit nurse practitioners from performing abortion procedures. The enactment of this bill would have significantly restricted access to abortion for women in rural communities where health care is routinely provided by nurse practitioners. This bill passed the house, but failed in the Senate. HB 2674: Emergency Contraception
HB 2674 would have required that sexual assault victims be given information and access to EC when receiving treatment from health care facilities.
This bill was never heard. | 
