Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Dutchess and Columbia) announced that she helped pass a series of bills to strengthen women’s reproductive rights. The package includes measures to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into state law, expand access to contraception and prevent workplace discrimination based on reproductive decisions.

“Women’s rights and reproductive decisions should never be up for debate,” Barrett said. “It’s ridiculous to think that a woman can’t make her own choices about her body and health. The time for full gender equality in New York is now, especially now that both legislative houses are on the same side of this fight.”

To help guarantee a woman’s right to choose in New York, Barrett co-sponsored and passed the Reproductive Health Act, codifying the federal protections of Roe v. Wade into state law (A.21). Efforts at the federal level to undermine a woman’s right to choose highlights the importance of this legislation, ensuring women do not have to worry about the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, noted Barrett.

The Assembly also passed the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act, requiring health insurers provide cost-free coverage of all FDA-approved contraception when prescribed by a health care provider (A.585-A). Additionally, the package includes a measure prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees based on their or their dependent’s reproductive health decisions, as well as barring employers from accessing private medical information without an employee’s prior informed, written consent (A.584).

“Women should not have to worry about access to contraception or discrimination from employers based on their personal medical decisions,” Barrett said. “Our health care decisions are our own. The legislation will better protect New York women’s constitutional rights, regardless of what happens in Washington.”