NEW YORK, June 14 (Xinhua) -- New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of six bills on Monday to protect the rights of patients and empower reproductive healthcare providers.
Notably, the legislation prohibits medical malpractice insurance companies from taking any adverse action against an abortion or reproductive healthcare provider who performs an abortion or provides reproductive healthcare that is legal in the state of New York on someone who is from out of state.
The package also provides certain legal protections for abortion service providers by creating a statutory exception for the extradition of abortion-related offenses, prohibiting courts from cooperating with out-of-state civil and criminal cases that stem from abortions that took place legally within their borders, as well as prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with anti-abortion states' investigations regarding abortions that took place legally.
"Reproductive rights are human rights, and today we are signing landmark legislation to further protect them and all who wish to access them in New York State. The women of New York will never be subjected to government mandated pregnancies," said Hochul.
The move is aimed to "protect New York service providers from the retaliatory actions of anti-abortion states and ensure that New York will always be a safe harbor for those seeking reproductive healthcare," according to Hochul.
The legislation addresses a variety of legal concerns unleashed by the U.S. Supreme Court's leaked opinion on the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which would overturn the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade on the eve of its 50th anniversary, said a release by the New York State government.
A leaked opinion from the Supreme Court in early May shows it has voted to overturn the nearly 50-year-old decision that gave women the ability to choose to terminate a pregnancy without excessive restrictions from the government.
Massive protests and legal fights broke out following reports of the leaked opinion and Democrats like Hochul rallied to protect abortion rights. ■
