Safeguarding Women’s and Children’s Health Act of 2023
Impact
If enacted, HB 2570 would amend the Public Health Service Act by implementing standardized data collection on abortion drugs and mandating the reporting of adverse events. It obliges healthcare practitioners to report any adverse occurrences within 15 days and ensures that data collected by states will be aggregated and made publicly accessible, thereby improving the overall understanding of the safety and implications of chemical abortions. This move may address significant gaps currently acknowledged in health data, particularly concerning emergency room visits and complications resulting from chemical abortions.
Summary
House Bill 2570, titled the 'Safeguarding Women’s and Children’s Health Act of 2023', seeks to enhance the accuracy and reporting of abortion drug prescriptions and related adverse events. The need for this bill is attributed to existing data limitations and inconsistencies in reporting practices across states regarding chemical abortions, which have led to underreporting of complications and deaths associated with these procedures. The bill aims to establish stricter reporting requirements and create online portals for health care providers to submit data efficiently and securely to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Contention
The bill is likely to face contention regarding individual states' rights to regulate healthcare practices. Supporters argue that accurate reporting is essential for public safety and health policy, while opponents may view the federal oversight as overreach, potentially challenging existing practices and provider autonomy in how abortion services are managed. There's also concern about the implications for patients and providers if increased scrutiny leads to hesitance in providing or seeking care related to chemical abortions, potentially affecting access to these services.
Assault Weapons Ban of 2023 This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). The prohibition does not apply to a firearm that is (1) manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action, except for certain shotguns; (2) permanently inoperable; (3) an antique; (4) only capable of firing rimfire ammunition; or (5) a rifle or shotgun specifically identified by make and model. The bill also exempts from the prohibition the following, with respect to a SAW or LCAFD: importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession related to certain law enforcement efforts, or authorized tests or experiments; importation, sale, transfer, or possession related to securing nuclear materials; and possession by a retired law enforcement officer. The bill permits continued possession, sale, or transfer of a grandfathered SAW, which must be securely stored. A licensed gun dealer must conduct a background check prior to the sale or transfer of a grandfathered SAW between private parties. The bill permits continued possession of, but prohibits sale or transfer of, a grandfathered LCAFD. Newly manufactured LCAFDs must display serial number identification. Newly manufactured SAWs and LCAFDs must display the date of manufacture. The bill also allows a state or local government to use Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds to compensate individuals who surrender a SAW or LCAFD under a buy-back program.