Assemblymember Hoyt Calls for Enhanced Penalties for Crimes Against the Reproductive Health Care Community

ALBANY, NY (06/18/2009)(readMedia)-- Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo, Grand Island) announced today he has introduced the Protections for Reproductive Health Care Act (or the "Protections" Act) (A.8924) to send an important message that New York State will take a leadership role against the violence and harassment of reproductive health care providers, the patients they serve and the staff and volunteers who assist them. In making his announcement, Hoyt was joined by Lynne Slepian, the widow of slain reproductive health care provider Dr. Barnett Slepian of Buffalo; Family Planning Advocates of New York State; and Planned Parenthoods and other reproductive health care providers and advocates from around the state.

"Less than three weeks ago, Dr. George Tiller was shot to death in Kansas, and a decade ago, Dr. Barnett Slepian from my community of Buffalo was murdered. Both of these men were targeted for their work as reproductive health care providers by cowardly assailants," Hoyt said. "It is time for New York to put an end to this escalating pattern of violence surrounding reproductive health care, and this is a step in that direction."

Hoyt's bill not only enhances penalties for attacks against reproductive health care providers, it establishes proper punishment for violent attacks against health care center staff and volunteers. "Many health centers rely on staff and volunteers to shield patients from the threats and harassment of anti-abortion protestors, and these heroes should be entitled to the fullest protections available under the law," Hoyt said.

"Abortion is safe and legal, and no one providing, seeking or supporting abortion services should be in the line of fire," said FPA President and CEO M. Tracey Brooks. "This law will be a strong deterrent to these extremists, and we are so appreciative to Assemblymember Hoyt for spearheading this effort."

The reproductive health care community in New York and nationwide reports an increase in the number of protestors who engage in threatening behavior or violent rhetoric. "Violent protestors should stand up and take notice," Brooks warned. "If you injure a reproductive health care professional, staff, volunteer or patient in New York, you're going to face strong, felony penalties."

Lynne Slepian joined Assemblymember Hoyt in support of the Protections for Reproductive Health Care Act. She was widowed when her husband, Dr. Barnett Slepian, a reproductive health care doctor in Buffalo, was murdered in 1998. An ardent supporter of the bill, Slepian insists that "stronger laws protecting clinic access are needed to prevent extremists from endangering the rights and safety of patients, staff, volunteers and doctors."

"I had hoped my husband's killing would be the last over the issue of reproductive choice, but I now see this fight continues," she said. "Violent offenders need to know they will go to jail for a long time if they target the reproductive health care community in New York State."

Hoyt's bill recognizes the harm caused by those who use violence to prevent access to reproductive health care services by creating enhanced penalties for assault crimes committed in the course of interfering with reproductive health care service delivery.

Under this legislation, causing physical injury to someone who is obtaining, providing or assisting someone to obtain or provide reproductive health services would be a new class E felony, and causing serious physical injury would be a new class C felony. This legislation also ensures that repeat offenders of the laws designed to protect safe access to clinics are subject to escalated penalties.

"In no way does this legislation interfere with the free speech rights of peaceful demonstrators," Hoyt pointed out. "Its purpose is to penalize criminal, violent conduct that causes injury to these health care providers and patients."

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