Help Us Defeat (Another) Anti-Choice Bill in Wyoming

ACTION NEEDED: We need your help to defeat Senate File 88, the so-called "Woman'sright to reproductive safety and information.” This bill would impose a 24-hour waiting period on women who are seeking abortion services, impose an ultrasound requirement, and require women to be given government-specified information regarding abortion (including medically inaccurate information such as abortion causing an increased risk of breast cancer). It would ban nearly every abortion in Wyoming, no matter what a woman's circumstances.

SF88 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  The committee hearing will be tomorrow , Friday, February 1, at 8:00 am in Room 302.  Please e-mail the Senate Judiciary Committee members and ask them to VOTE "NO" on Senate File 88, "Woman's right to reproductive safety and information."

Senator John Schiffer, Chairman - John.Schiffer@wyoleg.gov
Senator Bruce Burns - Bruce.Burns@wyoleg.gov
Senator Leland Christensen - Leland.Christensen@wyoleg.gov
Senator Floyd Esquibel - Floyd.Esquibel@wyoleg.gov
Senator Larry Hicks - Larry.Hicks@wyoleg.gov

You may also vocalize your opposition to House Bill 97 at the online voter hotline, or by calling the telephone hotline -- 1-866-996-8683 (or 307-777-8683 for local callers within the Cheyenne area).  The telephone hotline is staffed only when the Legislature is in session, approximately 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.

We need to defeat this bill in committee so that it does not move on to the full Senate.  Thank you for helping us oppose this dangerous and mean-spirited attempt to limit women's access to safe, legal abortion services in Wyoming.

Help Us Defeat Anti-Choice Bill in Wyoming

ACTION NEEDED: We need your help to defeat House Bill 97- No abortion after heartbeat.  HB97 is an extreme measure that would ban nearly every abortion in Wyoming, no matter what a woman's circumstances -- and before most women even know they are pregnant!

HB97 has been assigned to the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.  The committee hearing will be tomorrow, Monday, January 28.  Please e-mail the House Labor, Health Committee members and ask them to VOTE "NO" on House Bill 97, "No abortion after heartbeat."

Representative Elaine Harvey, Chairman - Elaine.Harvey@wyoleg.gov
Representative Eric Barlow - Eric.Barlow@wyoleg.gov
Representative Kathy Coleman - kathy.coleman@wyoleg.gov
Representative Lee Filer - Lee.Filer@wyoleg.gov
Representative Matt Greene - matt.greene@wyoleg.gov
Representative Norine Kasperik - norine.kasperik@wyoleg.gov
Representative Lloyd Larsen - Lloyd.Larsen@wyoleg.gov
Representative Mary Throne - Mary.Throne@wyoleg.gov
Representative Sue Wilson - Susan.Wilson@wyoleg.gov

 

You may also vocalize your opposition to House Bill 97 at the online voter hotline or by calling the telephone hotline -- 1-866-996-8683 (or 307-777-8683 for local callers within the Cheyenne area).  The telephone hotline is staffed only when the Legislature is in session, approximately 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.

We need to defeat this bill in committee so that it does not move on to the full House!  Thank you for helping us oppose this extreme abortion ban.

Do you support LGBT rights? We need your help!

ACTION NEEDED: We believe in a society that values fairness and equality, that’s why we are supporting two pro-LGBT bills being debated at the Wyoming Legislature, HB168 –Domestic partnerships-rights and responsibilities and HB169 - Marriage-definitions. But we need your help!   

These two bills have been assigned to the House Corporations Committee and will be heard at noon on Monday, January 28. Legislators need to hear from you! Please email the House Corporations Committee members and inform them that you support LGBT rights, and ask them to VOTE “YES” on HB168 and HB169.  

Representative Rosie Berger, Chairwoman - rosie.berger@wyoleg.gov

Representative Gregg Blikre - Gregg.Blikre@wyoleg.gov

Representative James Byrd - james.byrd@wyoleg.gov

Representative Gerald Gay - gerald.gay@wyoleg.gov

Representative Matthias Greene - matt.greene@wyoleg.gov 

Representative Dan Kirkbride - Dan.Kirkbride@wyoleg.gov

Representative Jerry Paxton - Jerry.Paxton@wyoleg.gov

Representative Ruth Petroff - Ruth.Petroff@wyoleg.gov 

Representative Dan Zwonitzer - dan.zwonitzer@wyoleg.gov 

You may also vocalize your support of these bills at the online voter hotline or by calling the telephone hotline -- 1-866-996-8683 (or 307-777-8683 for local callers within the Cheyenne area).  The telephone hotline is staffed only when the Legislature is in session, approximately 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.

The true measure of us as a state is how we treat each other. Every individual should have the opportunity to make a legal commitment to the person he or she loves. Thank you for helping us fight for equal rights in the Equality State!   

Roe v. Wade: 40th Anniversary

Forty years ago today, the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that recognized that a pregnant woman has a right to make her own decision about whether to have a child or have an abortion. Since then, some politicians have been trying to take that decision out of a woman’s hands. Over the past two years, these efforts have reached record levels. In those two short years, our elected representatives found the time to pass almost 140 provisions designed to interfere with a woman and her family’s private decisions about whether or not to have children.

Of course, we don’t all feel the same way about abortion. But we should be able to agree that important decisions like these are better made by a woman, her family, and her doctor than by politicians.

Indeed, the American people have shown they don't want politicians to interfere in personal, private decision-making. This year, across the country, people came together to speak out against reproductive restrictions and those who pushed them. In states like Virginia, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Idaho, women and men took time out of their busy lives to go to their state capitols and tell their representatives to leave these decisions where they belong: with a woman, her family, and her doctor.

And these folks aren’t just talking, they are voting. Recently, voters in states as diverse as Mississippi and Colorado, Florida, and North Dakota all rejected ballot measures that would have interfered with a woman’s ability to make her own decisions about pregnancy. Politicians with extreme views on the right to choose whether to have an abortion lost at the polls. In fact, Americans are so fed up with politicians trying to interfere with a woman’s private health care decision, that a Gallup poll found that 39 percent of women in 12 battleground states said abortion was the most important issue for women in the election.

Incredibly, however, some politicians still haven’t gotten the message. For example, over the last two years, some politicians in the U.S. House of Representatives tried to change the definition of rape; several states passed laws mandating that a woman undergo an ultrasound and be forced to see an image before she can have an abortion; and politicians tried to give employers the right to deny a woman insurance coverage for birth control.

Even some Wyoming legislators are still determined to take away a woman’s ability to make her own decisions about birth control, pregnancy, and abortion. Two legislative measures being debated in the Wyoming legislature would effectively ban almost all abortion services in Wyoming. Both HB97 and SF88 violate provisions upheld in Roe v. Wade, and amount to nothing more than governmental interference into private medical decisions of Wyoming women and their families. 

These attacks at the state and federal level notwithstanding, we must keep in mind two important lessons that we learned this year. First, however each of us personally feels about abortion, Americans have had enough of politicians trying to take that decision away from women and their families. Second, if we continue to speak out, we can stem this tide. We can stop politicians from interfering in a woman’s private health care decisions. So this year, when legislators in Cheyenne try to push restrictions on reproductive health care for Wyoming women, we must stand together and them realize just how out-of-touch and out-of-date they are.

Legislative Update: Week Two

Week two of the Wyoming Legislative Session ended with a beautiful sunny day in Cheyenne. There was lots of interesting floor debate this week on SF104; a bill to change direction in the Department of Education and even though it isn’t a bill we’re following, it was great to listen to such lively debate.

We spent most of our time last week with the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Keith Gingery (R–Jackson). Mr. Gingery runs an efficient meeting, and gets through bills quickly while still allowing for ample testimony and debate. HB23 – Juvenile parole eligibility, a bill that would do away with mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles, passed out of committee and third reading in the House. We strongly support this bill and hope it moves easily through the Senate.

HB74 – Sex offenders – residence near child care facilities failed in committee as it was a very flawed bill that would be virtually impossible to enforce. It would’ve left some Wyoming communities with virtually no residential areas for sex offenders to live, and done little more than provide a false sense of security for our children.

We supported HB133 – Human trafficking, which passed out of committee and would provide state penalties for the crime of human trafficking. Wyoming is currently the only state that has no protection in this area for trafficking victims.

The House Judiciary Committee also heard two great bills, HB153 and HB154, which would allow for representation of children in compact (out-of-state) and CHINS (child in need of supervision) proceedings. Rep. Mary Throne (D – Cheyenne) is the chief sponsor of each of these bills, and we strongly support each measure. They will now move onto General File in the House of Representatives.

SF17 – Community juvenile services passed 3^rd reading in the Senate, and will now move over to the House. We do not support this bill because unfortunately, it does little to repair the fundamentally flawed juvenile justice system in Wyoming. SF17 is more of the same smoke-and-mirrors that the legislature has been using to dodge addressing our broken juvenile justice for the past 50 years.

As always, we love to hear from our supporters, so please contact us if you have questions or suggestions about our legislative work.

In addition to the bills listed in our previous post, here are further bills that we will be tracking throughout the session:

HOUSE BILLS

HB175 – Juvenile citations – notification by law enforcement

Sponsored by: THRONE

Description: AN ACT relating to juveniles; requiring notification to parents, guardians or custodians when a juvenile is issued a citation as specified; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB178 – Sexual assault – disclosure

Sponsored by: KRONE

Description: AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; providing for release of the name of the alleged actor in a sexual abuse violation as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This allows for the release of information related to an alleged perpetrator upon arrest and before any conviction.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB187 – Campaign finance

Sponsored by: STUBSON

Description: AN ACT relating to campaign finance reporting; modifying persons required to file campaign receipts reports; removing a requirement that contributors annually renew their consent to automatic contributions; limiting contributions by political action committees; adjusting contribution limits to candidates for statewide political office; requiring amendment of campaign finance reports as specified; providing and modifying criminal penalties; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

HB189 – Repeal of Real ID

Sponsored by: KROEKER

Description: AN ACT relating to the federal Real ID Act; amending Wyoming's motor vehicle statutes to remove provisions added in 2009 to comply with the federal Real ID Act; prohibiting the retention of documents as specified; requiring the destruction of specified documents; prohibiting late renewal penalties as specified; prohibiting nonpolitical identification of driver's licenses; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: The ACLU has traditionally opposed the Real ID Act as a government overreach and breach of private information; however, citizens that do not have an ID that complies with the Real ID requirements are not able to fly on US airlines.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

HB190 – Public defender – fee schedule and indigency standard

Sponsored by: WALTERS

Description: AN ACT relating to public defenders; providing for posting of fee schedules online; providing for use of indigency standard in court rules; repealing rulemaking authority for setting indigency standards; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB204 – Katie’s Law

Sponsored by: ESQUIBEL,K

Description: AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; providing for collection of DNA from a person arrested for a felony; providing for expungement of information as specified; repealing archaic language; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would allow for DNA collection on arrest for certain crimes and put the burden on those acquitted to request destruction of DNA files.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

SENATE FILES

SF115 – Protective services investigation amendments

Sponsored by: NUTTING

Description: AN ACT relating to child and adult protective services; amending requirements for investigations; amending definitions; establishing a standard of proof; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill establishes narrower requirements for child abuse assessments and investigation.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

SF131 – Discrimination

Sponsored by: ROTHFUSS

Description: AN ACT relating to discrimination; prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as specified; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY SUPPORT

SF134 – Voter identification

Sponsored by: DRISKILL

Description: AN ACT relating to elections; providing for display of proof of identification at polling places; providing exceptions; providing for challenge of voters; providing for waiver of fees for state issued identification cards; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: Voter ID laws are alleged to correct a problem that is virtually non-existent, voter fraud. In Wyoming there have only been two cases of attempted voter fraud in the past sixteen years, and both culprits were apprehended and tried. The Department of Justice conducted a nationwide study and discovered that between 2002 and 2007, out of 300 million votes cast, there were only eighty-six cases of voter fraud. This bill burdens voters unnecessarily, and disproportionally effects low-income earners and people of color.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE

Will Your Civil Liberties Be At Stake?

The 62nd Wyoming Legislature is in full swing, and things are moving quickly. The first week saw over 250 bills filed, with many more expected to come. While this session brought in a whole new class of law makers, we continue to have the same types of proposed legislation that we’ve seen over the past few years. For example, both HB97 & SF88 are extreme measures that would inject the State into women’s private medical decision, and effectively ban abortions in Wyoming. We intend to fight against these bills as they move through the legislative process, but remember that it’s very important for your legislators to hear from you! Learn how to participate during the legislative session.

We were thrilled to learn that Rep. Connolly (D–Laramie), along with several other sponsors, filed a marriage equality bill. We strongly support any pro-LGBT legislation! In addition, Rep. Connolly drafted an excellent bill that would extend significant benefits to domestic partnerships and same-sex couples.

Like in years past, we will advocate for laws that safeguard our civil liberties and fights against bills that threaten our freedoms. We will track any bills that impact civil liberties in Wyoming. Stay tuned to our blog throughout the session for continuous updates on bills we’re monitoring.

Here’s our current list of bills we’re monitoring:

HOUSE BILLS

HB23 – Juvenile parole eligibility
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; modifying provisions relating to life sentences for juvenile offenders generally; eliminating life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would bring Wyoming into compliance with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding mandatory life without parole for juveniles.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB47 – Confidential student disciplinary hearing
Sponsored by: GREEAR

Description: AN ACT relating to children; providing that relevant proceedings of a court action involving misconduct of a minor may be disclosed to the minor's school district for purposes of suspension or expulsion of the minor from school as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would allow confidential court records to be released to a number of school officials to add information to school suspensions and expulsions. This measure is much too broad. It’s unnecessary and violates privacy.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB74 – Sex offenders – residence near child care facilities
Sponsored by: EKLUND

Description: AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; prohibiting sex offenders from residing near child care facilities; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: Current sex offender registry list all sex offenders even those convicted of Romeo/Juliet offenses, urination in public etc. In many towns allow for no areas available for residence. Day care facilities change on a month to month basis and the list of providers is not easily available or comprehensive.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB76 – Investigative subpoenas
Sponsored by: ZWONITZ,DV

Description: AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; providing for the issuance of investigative subpoenas for internet fraud; providing for confidentiality; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This is a much improved version to similar bills we've seen the past two sessions, as it includes probable cause, but we would like to see some small changes on destruction of documents.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB89 – Unemployment compensation – drug testing
Sponsored by: MADDEN

Description: AN ACT relating to unemployment insurance; disqualifying from unemployment benefits persons terminated from employment for illegal use of a controlled substance; requiring controlled substances testing for applicants as specified; providing for suspension of eligibility following a positive test for controlled substances; providing for rules and regulations; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: Invasion of privacy; overreaching by state; interference with contract between state and employer/employee. These programs have been found to be unnecessary and expensive, and can effect struggling families and children.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB96 – Elections – ballot access and registration
Sponsored by: KROEKER

Description: AN ACT relating to elections; decreasing requirements for minor political party status; extending time for cancellation of registration; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB97 – No abortion after heartbeat
Sponsored by: KROEKER

Description: AN ACT relating to public health; providing that no abortion shall be performed after the embryo or fetus has a detectable fetal heartbeat; providing a definition; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would effectively ban almost all abortions in Wyoming; violates Roe v. Wade. Amounts to governmental interference in private medical decisions of women; violates Rove. v. Wade.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE

HB102 – Hospitalization of mentally ill persons
Sponsored by: Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to emergency detention and involuntary hospitalization proceedings; providing that proceedings involving minor children be brought under the Child Protection Act, as specified; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

HB114 – Liberty Preservation Act
Sponsored by: KROEKER

Description: AN ACT relating to criminal law; providing legislative declaration that portions of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 are unconstitutional; prohibiting enforcement of federal law as specified; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: Undoubtedly an unconstitutional usurpation of federal authority.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

HB133 – Human trafficking
Sponsored by: CONNOLLY

Description: AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; defining criminal offenses related to human trafficking as specified; providing penalties; providing for restitution; providing an affirmative defense to prosecution of human trafficking victims as specified; providing for services to victims of human trafficking; providing for forfeiture of property as specified; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB 141 – Political party affiliation
Sponsored by: EKLUND

Description: AN ACT relating to elections; modifying when declaration of party affiliation is required and procedures relating to declaration; modifying when a voter may change party affiliation; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: Restricts voting rights

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

HB153 – Representation of children in compact proceedings
Sponsored by: THRONE

Description: AN ACT relating to the Interstate Compact on Juveniles; providing for appointment of the state public defender or a guardian ad litem to represent juveniles in accordance with the compact; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB154 – Representation of children in CHINS proceedings
Sponsored by: THRONE

Description: AN ACT relating to public defenders; providing for public defenders to represent children in child in need of supervision proceedings; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: SUPPORT

HB168 – Domestic partnerships – rights and responsibilities
Sponsored by: CONNOLLY

Description: AN ACT relating to domestic relations; establishing domestic partnerships and related rights and responsibilities; specifying limits on domestic partnerships; requiring certificates; providing for the recognition of foreign domestic partnerships; establishing the presumed legitimacy of children of domestic partnerships; providing for dissolution of domestic partnerships; defining the applicability of other law; prohibiting multiple domestic partnerships; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB169 – Marriage – definitions
Sponsored by: CONNOLLY

Description: AN ACT relating to marriage; defining marriage as a contract between two natural persons; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY SUPPORT

SENATE FILES

SF14 – Correctional industries
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to penal institutions; expanding correctional industries program; clarifying provisions; amending procurement requirements relating to correctional industries program; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

SF15 – Inmate transfers
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to penal institutions; amending notification requirements for prisoners sentenced to custody of department of corrections; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

SF17 – Community juvenile services
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to community juvenile services; authorizing counties to be direct grant recipients of community juvenile services grants; modifying grant eligibility and requirements; conforming provisions; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill does nothing more than support the current ineffective patch-work juvenile justice non-system.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

SF65 – Enticement of a minor
Sponsored by: HICKS

Description: AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; defining the offense of enticement of a minor; providing criminal penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill is broad and vague; most likely unconstitutional as it fails to clearly state what the crime consists of.

ACLU Position: OPPPOSE

SF67 – Wiretap authorization
Sponsored by: Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Description: AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; modifying authorization for communication interception, pen registers and traps and trace devices; clarifying conditions and procedure for communication interception; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would extend law enforcement’s authority to wiretap citizen’s phones. This authorization can cover all types of electronic communication including emails, computer files, chat room conversations, etc.

ACLU Position: OPPOSE

SF88 – Women’s right to reproductive safety and information
Sponsored by: NUTTING

Description: AN ACT relating to public health and safety; requiring physicians to obtain a signed acknowledgment as specified when obtaining a pregnant woman's consent to an abortion; requiring the disclosure of information; requiring the retention of records; providing exceptions; providing definitions; and providing for an effective date.

Comment: This bill would effectively ban almost all abortions in Wyoming; violates Roe v. Wade. Amounts to governmental interference in private medical decisions of women; violates Rove. v. Wade.

ACLU Position: STRONGLY OPPOSE

SF108 – Primary elections
Sponsored by: ROTHFUSS

Description: AN ACT relating to elections; providing for primary elections allowing any voter to vote for any candidate running; eliminating election of precinct committeemen and committeewomen; providing for the candidates with the two highest votes in the primary to advance to the general election; providing for filling of vacancies in nomination; providing conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

ACLU Position: MONITORING

Make your voice heard this legislative session

With the 2013 Wyoming General Legislative Session starting today, we want to remind all of our supporters that the ACLU of Wyoming will continue to monitor our state legislature closely this session. We will advocate for laws that safeguard our civil liberties and fight against bills that threaten our freedoms.

To get current information about our activities during the legislative session, remember to stay-tuned to our blog or join the conversation on Facebook. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Twitter where we will be live-tweeting committee meeting and floor debates from the Wyoming State Capitol.

It's important to make your voice heard, too! Your legislators need to hear from you. Learn how to participate during the session.

Together we can defend civil liberties in the Equality State!