Louisiana Bill Relative to the Prohibition on Public Funding of Abortion (HB 891)

HB 891 would revise the current law prohibiting public funding for entities that perform abortions by removing any reference to contracts, thereby causing the prohibition to apply only to funding mechanisms other than contracts.

The bill would revise the law further to provide that entities prohibited from receiving certain public funding are those that do any of the following:

• Performs abortions in the state.
• Provides facilities to another health-care provider, entity, or organization for the purpose of performing abortions in the state.
• Hires or retains another health-care provider, entity, or organization for the purpose of performing abortions in the state.
• Provides reimbursable Medicaid services in the same physical facility as a licensed out patient abortion facility.

The bill would prohibit the department of health from entering into a Medicaid provider agreement with any entity that is prohibited from receiving certain public funding for abortion-related reasons.

The bill would clarify that the prohibition on funding would apply to state funds, federal funds, and any other public funds for procuring goods or services, or for providing Medicaid services, reimbursements, or grants.

Licensing

The bill would require each licensed abortion facility’s location to be physically and financially separate from any facility where publicly funded Medicaid services are provided.

Related Legislation

Replaces HB 338.

This bill was introduced to clarify a recently passed state law. The bill would amend HB 606, which prohibits public funding for entities that perform abortions and which is currently being challenged in court.

STATUS

Passed the house on April 12, 2018, by a 89-3 vote.

Passed the senate, with amendments, on May 9, 2018, by a 28-5 vote.

Concurred in the house on May 16, 2018, by an 84-0 vote.

Signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on May 23, 2018.

People