URGENT: File Witness Slips - Protect Pregnancy Resource Centers in IL!
INSTRUCTIONS: To file a witness slip that says you OPPOSE SB 1909 (the Forced Abortion Information Act), click here and enter your name, address, and phone number. Leave everything else blank or put 'self'. Highlight 'OPPONENT' and 'RECORD OF APPEARANCES ONLY'. Check 'Terms of Agreement' and click "Create Slip."
According to IL Right to Life, the Forced Abortion Information Act would target pro-life, pro-woman pregnancy care centers in a number of ways:
1. SB 1909 claims to protect individuals' ability “to make autonomous, informed and evidence-based decisions” about abortion. However, it is another attempt to force pregnancy help centers to cooperate in some way with abortions or referrals for abortions.
This bill would most likely lead to the closing of pregnancy help centers entirely.
2. The Forced Abortion Information Act makes pregnancy resource centers and sidewalk advocates civilly liable for "deceptive acts or practice" for any concealment, suppression, or omission of a "material fact".
This means pro-life pregnancy resource centers could be liable for refusing to provide a woman with instructions on how to obtain an abortion, even if it violates an individual's conscience.
3. Under the Forced Abortion Information Act, the Illinois Attorney General has the authority to initiate a complaint against pregnancy resource centers according to "public interest."
In other words, investigations by the state are not based on any specific complaint.
4. Under the Forced Abortion Information Act, the Attorney General also has the authority to "impound" pregnancy resource center records as the investigation continues.
If the Attorney General determines a center is in violation of the law, penalties up to $50,000 can be issued.
The Forced Abortion Information Act is overly broad, imposing government-compelled speech and suppresses conscience rights and religious freedom, which is a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution.
