{"id":63039,"date":"2015-04-27T15:54:59","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T19:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"\/news\/?p=63039"},"modified":"2015-04-27T15:55:26","modified_gmt":"2015-04-27T19:55:26","slug":"action-needed-bill-forcing-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-promote-abortion-advances-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/action-needed-bill-forcing-pro-life-pregnancy-centers-promote-abortion-advances-california\/","title":{"rendered":"Action needed: Bill forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to promote abortion advances in California"},"content":{"rendered":"
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These days, one of the most dangerous places to be pro-life is\u00a0 California. The Golden State has\u00a0mandated churches to cover abortion<\/a>,\u00a0and is now seeking to\u00a0turn pro-life pregnancy centers into abortion counseling centers.<\/p>\n

On April 14, the state Assembly Health Committee passed AB 775<\/a>, also known as the “Bully Bill,” \u00a0on a 12 to 5 vote. AB 775 would mandate\u00a0pregnancy care clinics to post a notice stating: \u201cCalifornia has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services, prenatal care, and abortion, for eligible women.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB 775\u00a0would also require pregnancy care centers that provide counseling but not medical care to note that the clinic\u00a0\u201cis not licensed as a medical facility by the State of California.\u201d Both types of pregnancy care facilities\u00a0would also be required\u00a0to use the statements\u00a0in all advertising.<\/p>\n

The bill’s next hearing is Tuesday, April 28, with the Assembly Judiciary Committee, and pro-lifers are asking individuals\u00a0to make their voices heard.<\/a><\/p>\n

Jonathan Keller, executive director of the California Family Council and California Family Alliance (CFA), says<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Remarkably, AB 775 would turn every Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) into a state-mandated abortion referral service.\u00a0<\/strong>The bill would force over 160 PRCs in California to use their lobbies, websites, and literature to promote state-funded ‘free’ abortions, a direct violation of their moral standards. Violators would face heavy fines of at least $500 for each infraction.”<\/p>\n

CFA notes there was “passionate testimony from over 80 pro-life citizens who attended the hearing” for AB775, yet it passed on\u00a0a party-line vote\u00a0with\u00a0Democrats in favor of\u00a0the bill.<\/p>\n

CFA reports:<\/a>\u00a0“As currently amended, the bill would force over 160 PRCs in California to use their lobbies, websites, forms and literature to promote state-funded ‘free’ abortions, a direct violation of the moral standards of most PRCs. Violators face heavy fines of $500-$1,000 for each infraction.”<\/p>\n

Attorney Heather Hacker from Alliance Defending Freedom\u00a0said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cAB 775 unconstitutionally compels pro-life pregnancy centers and licensed medical clinics to espouse a government-sponsored message about abortion. This violates the First Amendment and other similar laws have been struck down across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, there are free legal resources for these pro-life pregnancy resource centers, too. Keller from CFA talked with Brad Dacus\u00a0with\u00a0the Pacific Justice Institute, a law firm prepared to help PRCs fight this unconstitutional mandate\u00a0pro-bono.<\/p>\n