Signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires pregnant individuals call a hotline number before receiving an abortion.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Health to implement the Life Choices Lifeline Program as a statewide care program to provide direct services, support, social services case management, and referrals (Sec. 1.a).

• Authorizes the use of licensed social workers, nurses, community health workers, licensed professional counselors, or other individuals of equivalent experience, to offer care plan coordination services to participants in the Life Choices Lifeline Program, including (Sec. 1-3):

• Development of a care plan of resources and support to address the needs identified;

• Referrals to appropriate local resources, including state and federal benefits programs and local charitable organizations;

• Assistance in applying for state and federal benefits programs;

• Assistance in accomplishing elements of the care plan;

• Services related to postpartum depression and related referrals;

• Assistance obtaining pediatric care and postpartum care; and

• Assistance obtaining substance abuse treatment and alcohol abuse treatment;

• Specifies eligibility to receive services under the Life Choices Lifeline Program, an individual must be at the time of initial contact with the Life Choices Lifeline Program (Sec. 1.f):

• A resident of this state who is the biological parent of an unborn child or a biological or adoptive parent of a child under two years of age;

• A pregnant woman seeking to obtain an abortion in this state; or

• A parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor residing in 21 this state.

• Prohibits anyone from performing an abortion unless the person verifies that the woman on whom the abortion is to be performed has received a resource access assistance offer (Sec. 3-20-16-2403).

• Specifies the pregnant woman is not required to (Sec. 3-4.c):

• Initiate any offered services to obtain an abortion; or

• Provide any information to the care agent except her unique identifying number

• Requires the Department of Health to (Sec. 3-20-16-2405):

• Contract with several agencies sufficient to ensure that each pregnant woman seeking an abortion in Arkansas receives a resource access assistance offer and has the opportunity to receive care plan coordination services and healthy pregnancy program services;

• Annually, designate the proportion of resource access assistance offers to be provided by each agency's share of participants in care plan coordination services or healthy pregnancy program services; and

• Contract only with agencies that are capable of offering all of the services required under § 20-8-1001 or the resource access assistance offer.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires pregnant individuals call a hotline number before receiving an abortion.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Health to implement the Life Choices Lifeline Program as a statewide care program to provide direct services, support, social services case management, and referrals (Sec. 1.a).

• Authorizes the use of licensed social workers, nurses, community health workers, licensed professional counselors, or other individuals of equivalent experience, to offer care plan coordination services to participants in the Life Choices Lifeline Program, including (Sec. 1-3):

• Development of a care plan of resources and support to address the needs identified;

• Referrals to appropriate local resources, including state and federal benefits programs and local charitable organizations;

• Assistance in applying for state and federal benefits programs;

• Assistance in accomplishing elements of the care plan;

• Services related to postpartum depression and related referrals;

• Assistance obtaining pediatric care and postpartum care; and

• Assistance obtaining substance abuse treatment and alcohol abuse treatment;

• Specifies eligibility to receive services under the Life Choices Lifeline Program, an individual must be at the time of initial contact with the Life Choices Lifeline Program (Sec. 1.f):

• A resident of this state who is the biological parent of an unborn child or a biological or adoptive parent of a child under two years of age;

• A pregnant woman seeking to obtain an abortion in this state; or

• A parent or legal guardian of a pregnant minor residing in 21 this state.

• Prohibits anyone from performing an abortion unless the person verifies that the woman on whom the abortion is to be performed has received a resource access assistance offer (Sec. 3-20-16-2403).

• Specifies the pregnant woman is not required to (Sec. 3-4.c):

• Initiate any offered services to obtain an abortion; or

• Provide any information to the care agent except her unique identifying number

• Requires the Department of Health to (Sec. 3-20-16-2405):

• Contract with several agencies sufficient to ensure that each pregnant woman seeking an abortion in Arkansas receives a resource access assistance offer and has the opportunity to receive care plan coordination services and healthy pregnancy program services;

• Annually, designate the proportion of resource access assistance offers to be provided by each agency's share of participants in care plan coordination services or healthy pregnancy program services; and

• Contract only with agencies that are capable of offering all of the services required under § 20-8-1001 or the resource access assistance offer.

Full Bill Text