The Dobbs Decision Working Group, made of Illinois lawmakers, has passed the Illinois House and awaits action in the Senate.
“The Illinois House Reproductive Health and the Dobbs Decision Working Group is highlighting their plan to protect abortion and gender-affirming health care. This plan heads to the House floor tonight. @RepKellyCassidy @PPIAction @EqualityILL #twill,” Mike Miletich, capital bureau chief for WEEK-TV, said on Twitter.
Illinois lawmakers filed an amendment to a bill that would allow for temporary licenses for out-of-state abortion providers, Chicago Business reported.
That bill passed the Illinois House on Jan. 5. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (R-Chicago) said the bill will provide access to reproductive health in the state and to provide access to “gender-affirming care.” The bill awaits debate and a vote in the State Senate, Fox 2 Now reported.
State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) spoke out on the bill.
“Illinois already has the most permissive abortion rights laws in the country. There is no law progressive enough to satisfy the most radical elements of the Democrat Party when it comes to abortion expansion,” Caulkins said on Facebook. “This bill allows non-medical doctors (physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives) to perform surgical abortions.”
He said it also allows anyone to receive over-the-counter birth control without a prescription.
“Last year, Illinois Democrats stripped away the right of parents to know that their minor child is having an abortion by ending parental notification,” Caulkins wrote. “Under this bill, minors could receive a surgical abortion from a non-doctor, paid for by the taxpayer, in a clinic that is not held to the same standards as other medical facilities, and their parents never have to know.”
He said the bill would allow doctors who lose their license for illegally performing an abortion in another state to get a medical license in Illinois.
“This bill requires community colleges and universities to make emergency contraception accessible for purchase in at least one vending machine on each campus at a cost no greater than $40,” Caulkins wrote. “The bill sets standards for gender-affirming care that will mean doctors can provide hormonal therapy or surgical gender reassignment surgery without requiring parental involvement and with no age limit.”
Lastly, Caulkins said the bill requires Illinois insurance plans to cover gender-affirming medication without copay or deductible to any person without age restrictions and no requirement for parental notification.
