AR21: Resolution Text

LRB-4292/1

RAC:amn&cjs

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

2015 Assembly RESOLUTION 21

January 12, 2016 - Introduced by Representatives C. Taylor, Subeck, Riemer, Hintz, Meyers, Considine, Ohnstad, Brostoff, Pope, Mason, Berceau, Billings, Kolste and Sargent. Referred to Committee on Assembly Organization.

AR21,1,2 Relating to: requiring the appointment of an assembly taskforce on women's access to affordable reproductive health care services.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This resolution requires the Committee on Assembly Organization to immediately appoint a committee, to be known as the Taskforce on Women's Access to Affordable Reproductive Health Care Services, consisting of three members each of the majority and minority parties. The taskforce must study and recommend ways to increase and ensure women's access to affordable reproductive health care services. The taskforce must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the assembly before July 1, 2016.

AR21,1,5 Whereas, the Wisconsin state assembly stands in solidarity with the 336,000 women seeking access to affordable reproductive health care services in our state each year; and

AR21,1,8 Whereas, numerous policies debated and passed by the legislature have reduced support for safety net providers, including Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin; and

AR21,2,4 Whereas, as a result of these policies, five rural Planned Parenthood health centers that provided thousands of Wisconsin women access to critical health care services, like cervical and breast cancer screenings, have closed, and no provider has stepped in to provide care; and

AR21,2,8 Whereas, community-based reproductive health care providers not only provide thousands of Wisconsin women with critical health care services, but also prevent 7,200 abortions, 21,200 unintended pregnancies, 1,500 new STI cases, and 25 cervical cancer cases every year in Wisconsin; and

AR21,2,10 Whereas, women's health is jeopardized when access to health centers, including Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, are reduced; and

AR21,2,13 Whereas, this body should study the impact of reducing access to and services from critical reproductive health providers prior to adopting other measures that could or do reduce these services; and

AR21,2,17 Whereas, every person, no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they come from, should have the right to exercise their most basic individual liberties and freedom to make their own personal, private health care decisions free of government interference, intimidation, and harassment; now, therefore, be it

AR21,2,21 Resolved by the assembly, That women's health should not be compromised by politically motivated attacks that do not promote and enhance access to health care, and that this legislature should pass policies which increase access to reproductive health care for thousands of Wisconsin women; and, be it further

AR21,3,3 Resolved, That the committee on assembly organization shall immediately appoint a committee, to be known as the Taskforce on Women's Access to Affordable Reproductive Health Care Services, consisting of three members each of the majority and minority parties. The taskforce shall study and recommend ways to increase and ensure women's access to affordable reproductive health care services. The taskforce shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the assembly before July 1, 2016.

AR21,3,4 (End)