March 2, 2010: Protect Reproductive Freedom & Voting Rights This Week

Dear ACLU-TN Legislative Alert Network:

It’s yet another busy week at the Tennessee General Assembly. Over the next few days, several bills will be heard in committees that require ACLU-TN voices to be heard. Please contact your legislators about the bills described below and let them know how you think they should vote. The easiest way to identify your legislators is to visit http://www.capitol.tn.gov, go to “Find My Legislator,” put in your address and click “search.” Once you identify your legislators, please check to see if they serve on any of the committees that are scheduled to hear these bills this week. If they do, please contact them immediately to let them know how you would like them to vote in the committee. If your legislators do not serve on the committees hearing the bills this week, you should contact them and explain how you want them to vote when the bills come to the Floor.

Many thanks for using your voice to protect our constitutional freedoms.

Warm regards,

Hedy

Reproductive Freedom

Bill

Bill Description

Will Be Heard

ACLU-TN Position

Freedom from Coercion Act

HB 3301 (Lynn)

Requires facilities where abortions are performed to post a notice stating that no one can coerce another to have an abortion and informing patients that law enforcement can be contacted. Requires pregnant minors to receive and sign certain notice documents. Companion Bill is SB 3812 (Johnson, J.).

ACLU-TN opposes this bill because it stigmatizes abortion by applying a different set of standards to it from other medical procedures; it demonizes certain health care providers; and it patronizes women by implying that they are incapable of making their own medical decisions regarding what is best for themselves and their families.

House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee

Wednesday, 03/03/10 at 1:30 p.m.— LP 30

OPPOSE

Fetuses as Victims of Assault

HB 3495 (Evans)

Removes the requirement that a fetus must be viable in order for it to be considered a victim during an assault or homicide of a pregnant woman. Companion bill is SB 3699 (Black).

Talking points-click here.

House Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee

Wednesday, 03/03/10 at 1:30 p.m.— LP 30

OPPOSE

Voting Rights

Bill

Bill Description

Will Be Heard

ACLU-TN Position

Financial Burden to Restore Voting Rights

HB0969 (McCord)

After completion of sentence, requires a person to have paid all restitution, fines and court costs before having the right to vote restored. Companion bill is SB0440 (Overbey).

Talking points-click here.

House Finance Budget Subcommittee

Wednesday, 03/03/10 at 11:00 a.m. – HHR 29

OPPOSE

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