Amendment #8 to S2543

Strengthening Health Care Protections FOR ALL Residents and Children in The Commonwealth

Mr. Soter of Bellingham moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

“SECTION XXX. Section 11I 1/2 of chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Legally protected health care activity” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:

''Legally-protected health care activity'', (i) the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, by any person of rights to reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth or the provision of insurance coverage for such services; (ii) any act or omission undertaken to aid or encourage, or attempt to aid or encourage, any person in the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, of rights to reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth; or (iii) the refusal by any person to obtain reproductive health care services, gender-affirming health care services or any other preventative medical care on behalf of themselves or their minor children; provided, however, that the provision of such a health care service by a person duly licensed under the laws of the commonwealth and physically present in the commonwealth and the provision of insurance coverage for such services shall be legally protected if the service is permitted under the laws of the commonwealth, regardless of the patient's location; and provided further, that ''legally-protected health care activity'' shall not include any service rendered below an applicable professional standard of care or that would violate anti-discrimination laws of the commonwealth.”"