Erin Ryan · December 14, 2015

Legislation: Ohio House Bill 408 – Reproductive Health Care Protections

Bill: House Bill 408 (full text) Title: Protection of Reproductive Health Care (Employees and Patients) Sponsors: Representatives Howse and Lepore-Hagan Co-Sponsors: Representatives Bishoff, Celebrezze, Fedor, Johnson G., Smith, Slesnick, and Sheehy Bill Analysis: This bill aims to help protect employees working at reproductive health care facilities and the patients that access these facilities from intimidation, harassment, and threats.  It would criminalize the actions of impeding reproductive health care and would create a cause of action for harassment or intimidation at health care facilities.  The bill would create a 15-foot buffer zone around the entrances and establishes a civil court right to action for employees of the nine facilities in Ohio that offer abortions. Status: The bill was introduced in the House on December 7, 2015. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on January 20, 2016.