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Senate Engrossed
website; adoption information; task force |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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SENATE BILL 1254 |
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AN ACT
Amending Title 36, chapter 20, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-2153.01; relating to abortion.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 36, chapter 20, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-2153.01, to read:
36-2153.01. Website information; agencies providing support for pregnant women; adoption information
A. On or before February 1, 2022, the department of health services shall provide On the department's public website home page the following easily comprehensible information, in both English and Spanish:
1. A list of Public and private agencies and services available to assist a woman through pregnancy, on childbirth and while her child is dependent. Any Agency that counsels, refers, performs, induces, prescribes or provides any means for abortion may not be included on the list.
2. EAch Agency's services, physical address, telephone number and website address, if available.
3. Information on and a link to a separate featured webpage that is accessible by redirecting from the domain name AdoptionOption.AZ.gov and that lists all of the following:
(a) Public and nonprofit adoption agencies that are not affiliated with an abortion provider and that are arranged geographically. The link shall include the information specified in paragraph 2 of this subsection.
(b) Easily comprehensible first steps to assist a pregnant woman seeking to confidentially explore the option of placing her child for adoption.
(c) Whether the adoption agency allows the woman to choose the adoptive parents.
(d) Agencies that offer obstetric ultrasounds free of charge.
(e) Agencies that offer confidential counseling free of charge to a woman considering placing her child for adoption.
B. All information provided pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be available in an easily downloadable printed format.
Sec. 2. Adoption promotion task force; appointments; duties; compensation; delayed repeal
A. The adoption promotion task force is established in the department of health services consisting of the following members:
1. Two licensed clinical social workers who have experience in assisting birth mothers in navigating the adoption process, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
2. Two residents of this state who provide preabortion or postabortion counseling in association with a nonprofit organization that does not counsel for or provide abortion, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
3. Two attorneys who are licensed in this state and who specialize either in advocating for women at risk of being coerced into abortion or in navigating the adoption process, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
4. Two residents of this state who are employed by public or private nonprofit adoption agencies, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
5. Two executive directors, or their designees, of nonprofit organizations that promote adoption as an alternative to abortion, one of whom is appointed by the president of the senate and one of whom is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
6. Two members of the senate, who are appointed by the president of the senate.
7. Two members of the house of representatives, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
B. The adoption promotion task force shall advise the department of health services on:
1. Preparing the website information required by section 36-2153.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.
2. Developing a public education initiative to promote adoption.
C. Members of the task force are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.
D. This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2022.