Shield Law 2.0

Abortion and gender-affirming care providers, patients, and supporters are under escalating attack—facing lawsuits, intimidation, and criminal prosecution by hostile states around the country and, now that President Trump has assumed office, by the federal government as well. To protect against these attacks, the NYCLU strongly supports S.4914-A (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.5480-B (Bronson).

S.4914-A/A.5480-B strengthens New York’s shield laws to better ensure that New York does not participate in attempts to penalize the provision of reproductive and gender-affirming health care. S.4914-A/A.5480-B accomplishes two primary goals. First, it will bolster New York’s protections for information that could be used to punish reproductive or gender-affirming health care. It does this by protecting information about sensitive health care that is held by private entities in New York, like hospitals, clinics, and nonprofits, from being accessed by hostile officials. Second, the bill will ensure that New York’s shield law protections extend to all professionals involved in the provision of care. Importantly it will clarify that New York’s existing medical malpractice and professional licensure protections apply to all providers who deliver reproductive or gender affirming health care, including therapists, speech pathologists, and advanced practice clinicians.