EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
Introduced by: President Rawlings-Blake
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE concerning
title
Limited-Service Pregnancy Centers - Disclaimers
FOR the purpose of requiring limited-service pregnancy centers to provide a certain disclaimer to clients and potential clients; defining a certain term; imposing certain penalties; and generally relating to required disclaimers by limited-service pregnancy centers.
body
BY adding
Article - Health
Section(s) 3-501 through 3-506, to be under the new subtitle designation,
"Subtitle 5. Limited-Service Pregnancy Centers
Baltimore City Revised Code
(Edition 2000)
SECTION 1. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Laws of Baltimore City read as follows:
Baltimore City Revised Code
Article - Health
Title 3. Health Facilities
SUBTITLE 5. LIMITED-SERVICE PREGNANCY CENTERS
§ 3-501. "LIMITED-SERVICE PREGNANCY CENTER" DEFINED.
IN THIS SUBTITLE, "LIMITED-SERVICE PREGNANCY CENTER" MEANS ANY PERSON:
(1) WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE PREGNANCY-RELATED SERVICES; AND
(2) WHO:
(I) FOR A FEE OR AS A FREE SERVICE, PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT PREGNANCY-RELATED SERVICES; BUT
(II) DOES NOT PROVIDE OR REFER FOR:
(A) ABORTIONS; OR
(B) NONDIRECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE BIRTH-CONTROL SERVICES.
§ 3-502. DISCLAIMER REQUIRED.
(A) IN GENERAL.
A LIMITED-SERVICE PREGNANCY CENTER MUST PROVIDE ITS CLIENTS AND POTENTIAL CLIENTS WITH A DISCLAIMER SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT THAT THE CENTER DOES NOT PROVIDE OR MAKE REFERRAL FOR ABORTION OR BIRTH-CONTROL SERVICES.
(B) HOW GIVEN.
THE DISCLAIMER REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION MUST BE GIVEN THROUGH 1 OR MORE SIGNS THAT ARE:
(1) WRITTEN IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH;
(2) EASILY READABLE; AND
(3) CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED IN THE CENTER'S WAITING ROOM OR OTHER AREA WHERE INDIVIDUALS AWAIT SERVICE.
§§ 3 503 TO 3 505. {RESERVED}
§ 3 506. PENALTIES: $500.
(A) IN GENERAL.
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES A PROVISION OF THIS SUBTITLE OR OF A RULE OR REGULATION ADOPTED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND, ON CONVICTION, IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $500 FOR EACH OFFENSE.
(B) EACH DAY A SEPARATE OFFENSE.
EACH DAY THAT A VIOLATION CONTINUES IS A SEPARATE OFFENSE.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That the catchlines contained in this Ordinance are not law and may not be considered to have been enacted as a part of this or any prior Ordinance.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED, That this Ordinance takes effect on the 30th day after the date it is enacted.
dlr09-648(4)~intro/30Sep09
He/PrdnncyCntrs/r-b:aa
dlr09-648(4)~intro/30Sep09
??2??
He/PrdnncyCntrs/r-b:aa