House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 4, 2013 10:57 AM
From:	Representative Matthew E. Baker
To:	All House members
Subject:	Rights of conscience - 3 bill package

I believe that the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth provide all individuals with the freedom to exercise their religious rights without influence or coercion of the Federal or State authorities. I believe that the protections of the rights of conscience are a fundamental element of religious freedom. And I believe that the rights of conscience are being impeded by a Government who requires that employers, employees and governmental entities support, through use of tax dollars and insurance premiums, devices and procedures which violate their religious beliefs and conscience.

As a result, I intend to introduce a packet of three bills which will ensure the rights of conscience of Pennsylvania citizens relating to health insurance coverage for contraceptives, sterilization and abortifacient drugs and devices.

These bills will allow those who support the use of contraceptives, sterilization procedures and abortifacient drugs and devices to have access to those services, but will not force those who have a moral or religious objection to them to financially support those services.

These bills will provide the following:

Document #1

Introduced as HB1049

Description:	Any health insurance plans offered by the Commonwealth or any locality to its employee is not required to provide coverage for contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures or abortifacient drugs or devices. This bill would provide that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cannot be mandated by the federal government to include coverage for contraception, abortion pills or sterilization in health insurance policies offered by the Commonwealth to employees or beneficiaries.
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Document #2

Introduced as HB1050

Description:	Any insurer offering an insurance plan, including individual or group plans, to offer duplicate policies that are identical in all respects with the exception that one policy/plan does not provide coverage for contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures or abortifacient drugs or devices. This bill would protect Pennsylvanians from having to purchase health insurance which covers birth control, early abortion pills and sterilization operations if against their conscience.
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Document #3

Introduced as HB1051

Description:	Any private employer who offers individual or group health insurance plans may not provide coverage for contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures or abortifacient drugs or device unless the subscriber or enrollee in the policy requests such coverage. This bill would protect Pennsylvania employers from having to provide coverage for birth control, early abortion pills and sterilization operations if against their conscience.
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