Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, today announced the passage of three of her bills in the Legislature that strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking, improve maternal health outcomes, and safeguard access to reproductive healthcare in New York.

The legislation includes:

• A.8939A, which establishes enforceable penalties for lodging facilities that fail to comply with New York's law requiring the posting of information about services available to victims of human trafficking.

• A.1541B, which creates a Cesarean Birth Review Board to examine the state's cesarean birth rates, identify best practices, and develop recommendations to reduce unnecessary cesarean deliveries and improve maternal health outcomes.

• A.9217, which clarifies that New York law will not impede doctors from prescribing and dispensing abortion medication.

"Each of these measures is rooted in the principle that government has a responsibility to protect people's safety, health, and bodily autonomy," said Assemblywoman Paulin.

Human Trafficking Victim Protection

Assemblywoman Paulin's human trafficking legislation closes a gap in state law by clarifying penalties for hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities that fail to post information about resources available to trafficking victims. While New York has required such postings since 2018, some facilities have failed to comply, potentially depriving victims of critical information that could help them escape dangerous situations.

"Human trafficking thrives in the shadows, and every opportunity we have to connect victims with lifesaving resources matters," Paulin said. "These postings can provide a victim with the information they need to seek help and escape exploitation. This legislation helps ensure that lodging facilities comply with the law and do their part in the fight against human trafficking."

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Senate bill sponsor, said, "Human trafficking in a multi-billion-dollar industry that profits off the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable people, and too often hotels and motels serve as hubs for this activity. Although New York State mandates that hotels post information on services for these victims, not every place complies with this. This legislation places penalties on these facilities that are in noncompliance with this law, to ensure that this information is as accessible to people who need it as possible. I am grateful to have worked with Assemblywoman Paulin on this and look forward to it being signed into law."

Improving Maternal Health Outcomes

A.1541B establishes a Cesarean Birth Review Board charged with reviewing cesarean birth practices throughout New York and identifying strategies to reduce unnecessary procedures. The legislation comes as cesarean birth rates remain significantly higher than recommended levels and continue to contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality.

"While cesarean deliveries are sometimes medically necessary and lifesaving, unnecessary cesareans can expose mothers and babies to avoidable risks," Paulin said. "New York must better understand why cesarean rates vary so dramatically between hospitals and communities and identify best practices that improve outcomes for mothers and infants. This legislation is an important step toward reducing preventable complications and addressing longstanding maternal health disparities."

State Senator Samra Brouk, Senate bill sponsor, said, “Black birthing people are still five times more likely to die during childbirth and are disproportionately subjected to unnecessary cesarean births. My bill, S7544A/A1541A with Assemblymember Paulin, will create a cesarean births review board to examine surgical birth rates across New York and identify best practices to improve maternal health outcomes. This legislation will help us confront the Black maternal mortality crisis to offer safer, more equitable care for families across our state.”

Helena A. Grant, MS, CNM, LM, CICP, FACNM, Outgoing President & Current Co-Chair Legislative Committee, New York Midwives, said, "New York Midwives is proud to have partnered with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin on the passage of Bill A.151B, creating a Cesarean Birth Review Board. After years of advocacy on behalf of women and birthing people across New York State, we are hopeful this legislation will increase awareness of systemic barriers and disparities in maternity care, strengthen informed consent, and help reduce unnecessary cesarean births, their associated short- and long-term impacts, and preventable birth-related trauma. In the spirit of restoration and healing, we applaud the passage of this bill and thank Assemblywoman Paulin for her unwavering commitment to ensuring birth is safe, satisfying, and sacred for all New Yorkers."

Protecting Reproductive Healthcare Access

The third bill, A.9217, clarifies that New York law will not stand in the way of medication abortion access in the event the federal government revokes approval of mifepristone or other medication abortion drugs despite decades of evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness. While New York cannot control federal law or regulators, this legislation ensures that nothing in state law should be construed to prohibit or punish providers prescribing and dispensing these medications in accordance with accepted medical standards and World Health Organization guidelines.

"New York has long been a national leader in protecting reproductive freedom, and we must continue to be proactive in defending access to safe, effective healthcare," Paulin said. 

"Mifepristone has been safely used for decades and is an essential medication for abortion care and the management of pregnancy loss. This legislation ensures that our state laws do not become impediments to medically appropriate care, notwithstanding political decisions at the federal level."

State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Senate bill sponsor, said, "Our Mifepristone Access Act is headed to the Governor’s desk to ensure that access to medication abortion cannot be wiped out by shifting federal rules driven by politics instead of science. Reproductive healthcare is healthcare, and Mifepristone is safe. It should never be subject to interference that seeks to ban, limit, or criminalize providers for delivering care that is medically-sound and entirely at the discretion of a patient and their doctor. We hope the Governor will sign our bill into law and enshrine these protections for patients and healthcare providers."

"Medication abortion is an integral part of New York’s reproductive health care landscape, helping make abortion access a reality for tens of thousands of people across the state – especially those who live in rural areas or struggle to travel for in-person procedural care,” said Jenna Lauter, Policy Counsel, New York Civil Liberties Union. "Mifepristone, specifically, has been used safely and effectively in the U.S. for over half a century. Politically motivated efforts to restrict access to this essential medication are devastating for reproductive freedom and public health, based in pronatalist ideology aimed at limiting women's equal participation and opportunities, and fly in the face of decades of research and science. This legislation sends a critical message: New York law will not be an added barrier to providers who continue prescribing medication abortion to their patients, notwithstanding any future baseless changes to the drugs’ federal approval."

"This legislation is an important safeguard that helps protect access to medication abortion, which is under relentless attack. Decades of real-world use and research underscore that the safety and efficacy of this essential health care. But the attacks on medication abortion have never been about science. Anti-abortion activists and lawmakers want to make it harder for everyone, everywhere to get an abortion when and where they need one – even in states like New York, where abortion access is legally protected. We deserve access to care that is rooted in science – not politics. We applaud Assemblywoman Paulin for her leadership in advancing this bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law as New York builds on its legacy as a safe haven for reproductive freedom," said Robin Chappelle Golston, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts.

"As Health Committee Chair, I remain committed to advancing policies that improve health outcomes, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the care and support they need," Paulin added. "I am proud to see these important bills pass in the Legislature and look forward to seeing them signed into law."