Provides that an individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine one's own life course and shall not be denied or infringed.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7925
SPONSOR: Simon TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to the constitution, in relation to the right to personal reproductive
liberty
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill amends the New York State Constitution to include the right to
personal reproductive autonomy, to ensure a woman's right to make repro-
ductive decisions, including abortion.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends article I of the constitution by adding a
new section 20 - "Personal reproductive liberty" to provide that an
individual's right to personal reproductive autonomy is central to the
liberty and dignity to determine one's own life course and shall not be
denied or infringed.
Section 2 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
In January 2019, New York enacted the Reproductive Health Act which
codified abortion rights established in the U.S. Supreme Court decision
'Roe v. Wade.
New York has long recognized that reproductive health care, including
abortion, is essential care and that decisions related to reproductive
health care and abortion are best left to a woman and her doctor.
However, the lack of a definitive enumeration of reproductive liberty in
New York's Constitution, along with the clear threat to.Roe v. Wade
being weakened or overturned by a.conservative U.S. Supreme Court, and
the cloud of multi-state efforts to erode reproductive autonomy, high-
lights the need for greater protection of these rights.
Amending the State Constitution to provide for an individual's right to
personal reproductive liberty will help ensure reproductive freedoms for
our citizens and further support the fundamental importance of reproduc-
tive liberty in our state.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A9605 Abinanti -referred to judiciary
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
none
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be
referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7925
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
August 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, DICKENS, BURDICK, DAVILA, DINOWITZ, JACOB-
SON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to the constitution, in relation to the right to
personal reproductive liberty
1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 1 of the
2 constitution be amended by adding a new section 20 to read as follows:
3 § 20. Personal reproductive liberty. An individual's right to personal
4 reproductive autonomy is central to the liberty and dignity to determine
5 one's own life course and shall not be denied or infringed.
6 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be
7 referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
8 next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in
9 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
10 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89101-01-3
