File #: Res 1061-2007    Version: * Name: Supporting A.5569/S.3579, also known as the “Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act”.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Women's Issues
On agenda: 9/25/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting A.5569/S.3579, also known as the “Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act”, which would help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by increasing access to emergency contraception for women in New York State.
Sponsors: Helen Sears, Eric N. Gioia, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, David Yassky, Helen D. Foster, Diana Reyna, Christine C. Quinn, Gale A. Brewer, Lewis A. Fidler, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Melissa Mark-Viverito, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, David I. Weprin, Thomas White, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 18

Res. No. 1061

 

Resolution supporting A.5569/S.3579, also known as the “Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act”, which would help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by increasing access to emergency contraception for women in New York State.

 

By Council Members Sears, Gioia, Comrie, Dickens, Yassky, Foster, Reyna, the Speaker (Council Member Quinn), Brewer, Fidler, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Weprin and White Jr.

 

Whereas, Emergency contraception (EC) is an important tool that women use to prevent unintended pregnancy; and

Whereas, EC, also known as emergency birth control, has been available for more than 30 years, and is currently more commonly known as the morning after pill, or Plan B; and

Whereas, According to Planned Parenthood, EC was responsible for approximately 43 percent of the decrease in the number of abortions nationwide from 1994 to 2000; and

Whereas, Plan B is now available over-the-counter for women 18 years of age and older who can satisfy certain identification requirements established by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and by prescription for all women; and

Whereas, Those needing a prescription may face delays that impede timely access to EC, thus effectively removing this vital option for such women; and

Whereas, A.5569/S.3579, also known as “The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act”, would help to fill this gap by allowing New York State pharmacists and registered nurses to work in partnership with doctors and other medical professionals to dispense EC directly to women under 18 years of age and those who do not meet the FDA identification requirements for over-the-counter EC; and

Whereas, According to an August 2006 report issued by the Academy for Education Development, 83 percent of pharmacists surveyed in New York City would be willing to partner with a physician towards this end; and

Whereas, The New York City Council’s May 2007 report entitled “ Emergency Contraception: Available at Your Pharmacy Now”, found that barriers to accessing EC were faced by women under 18, low-income women and undocumented women; and

Whereas, By passing, A.5569/S.3579, New York State could help eliminate barriers to obtaining EC and thus help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in New York State; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports A.5569/S.3579, also known as the “Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act”, which would help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by increasing access to emergency contraception for women in New York State.     

 

 

JP

LS 3552

8/13/07