New Jersey-2018-AR182-Introduced

An Assembly Resolution condemning the deceptive practices of certain crisis pregnancy centers.

Whereas, A crisis pregnancy center (CPC) is a type of nonprofit organization established to counsel pregnant women against having an abortion; and

Whereas, The majority of CPCs are run by religious organizations and the services they provide are based on a conservative Christian philosophy; and

Whereas, In New Jersey, CPCs are generally run by New Jersey Right to Life; and

Whereas, CPCs provide pregnant women, and those who may be pregnant, peer counseling services related to abortion, pregnancy, and childbirth, and may offer financial assistance, child-rearing resources, adoption, and other non-medical service; and

Whereas, While CPCs often look like abortion clinics and are intentionally located near such clinics, most CPCs are not legally licensed as medical centers and do not offer medical services; and

Whereas, CPCs that are licensed as medical clinics may provide pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, sonograms, and other pregnancy related services, largely so that the centers can attempt to convince women to carry their pregnancies to term; and

Whereas, CPCs have been known to disseminate false medical information about the physical and mental health risks of abortion, the effectiveness of condoms, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and the stage of a woman's pregnancy; and

Whereas, CPCs have also been criticized for engaging in deceptive advertising practices; and

Whereas, Some CPCs falsely advertise abortion services, attracting clients who wish to have an abortion. Others attract women by offering free pregnancy tests but presenting them with religious arguments against abortion; and

Whereas, CPCs are often located in communities where there are high numbers of women of color and use billboards specifically targeting African American women seeking abortions; and

Whereas, CPCs use rhetoric, advertising language, and telephone directory listing similar to those of abortion providers to mislead pregnant women who are seeking abortions to contact a CPC; and

Whereas, Although certain CPCs hire licensed health care professionals, many do not, and as a result, women may receive misinformation, including incorrect due dates, that could delay the delivery of prenatal care, and can be dangerous to the health of women who visit these clinics; and

Whereas, Lawsuits that have been filed against a number of CPCs have determined that such centers engage in false advertising and have required them to change their methods or led to settlements where the centers agreed to do so; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper that this House condemn strongly the deceptive practices of certain crisis pregnancy centers operating in this State and throughout the country in order to prevent delays in the delivery of prenatal care and to protect the health of women who visit these clinics; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House condemns strongly the deceptive practices of certain crisis pregnancy centers operating in this State and throughout the country in order to prevent delays in the delivery of prenatal care and to protect the health of women who visit these clinics.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Commissioner of Health, and New Jersey Right to Life.

STATEMENT

Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) have been known to disseminate false medical information about the physical and mental health risks of abortion, the effectiveness of condoms, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and the stage of a woman's pregnancy.

CPCs have also been known to engage in deceptive advertising practices by falsely advertising abortion services, attracting clients who wish to have an abortion, offering free pregnancy tests but presenting them with religious arguments against abortion, and using billboards specifically targeting African American women seeking abortions.

Lawsuits filed against a number of CPCs have determined that such centers engage in false advertising and have required them to change their methods or led to settlements where the centers agreed to do so.

This resolution strongly condemns the deceptive practices of certain crisis pregnancy centers operating in this State and throughout the country in order to prevent delays in the delivery of prenatal care and to protect the health of women who visit these clinics.