SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey already has some of the strongest abortion protections in the country, and state Attorney General Matt Platkin on Wednesday announced several actions aimed at further strengthening reproductive rights.
One measure clarifies for licensing boards that it’s illegal for abortion providers to be disciplined for performing abortion-related services, and bars the boards from cooperating with interstate investigations.
The state is also providing guidance on how to best secure patient data and protect their privacy.
Platkin also issued an alert about so-called crisis pregnancy centers, which he says are organizations working to prevent abortions by using false or misleading information.
Gov. Phil Murphy said his administration will “continue to make true on its promises to all women seeking the reproductive care they need and will set a standard for reproductive health care across our nation.”
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In June, the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case which gave constitutional protection for abortions. The current court, with six conservative members out of nine, ruled to allow states to decide abortion policy, opening the window for numerous states to ban or further limit abortions.
Since that time, New Jersey has seen a 7% uptick in abortions, according to the Society for Family Planning.
In July, Murphy also signed a pair of bills protecting patients and providers from out-of-state prosecution, while Platkin established a “strike force” allowing multiple arms of state government to take legal action against anyone who threatens or intimidates patients or care providers at New Jersey abortion clinics.
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