Rhode Island
Protected
Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe:
Abortion will remain legal in Rhode Island. In 2019, Rhode Island enacted a law to protect abortion and repealed various existing abortion restrictions.
Restrictions
Rhode Island law generally prohibits post-viability abortions.[1]23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-2(d). The state requires that a parent, legal guardian,[2]23 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-4.7-6. or judge[3]Id. consent to a minor’s abortion.
Rhode Island’s targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) laws include requirements related to facilities[4]216 R.I. CODE R. 20-10-6.3. and reporting.[5]23 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-3-17. Providers who violate Rhode Island’s abortion restrictions may face civil penalties.[6]See, e.g., id. § 23-4.7-7.
State Protections
In 2019, Rhode Island enacted express statutory protections for abortion[7]23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-2(a) (repealed R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-3 et seq.). while repealing a law prohibiting abortion on a “quick child,”[8]11 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 11-23-5, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 4. an unconstitutional ban on D&X procedures,[9]23 R.I. GEN. LAWS §§ 23-4.12-1—23-4.12-6, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 6; Rhode Island Med. Soc’y. v. Whitehouse, 239 F.3d 104, 106 (1st Cir. 2001). and limitations on private insurance coverage of abortion.[10]27 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 27-18-28, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, §7; Nat’l Educ. Ass’n of Rhode Island. v. Garrahy, 598 F. Supp. 1374, 1384 (D.R.I. 1984), aff’d, 779 F.2d … Continue reading The Rhode Island Constitution includes equal protection language, but it specifies that it does not grant any right relating to abortion.[11]R.I. CONST. art. 1, § 2 (1986). Although Rhode Island restricts the provision of surgical abortion to licensed physicians, it otherwise allows licensed physicians and other health-care practitioners to provide abortion care within their scope of practice.[12]216 R.I. CODE R. § 20-10-6.3. On July 5, 2022, the governor of Rhode Island issued an executive order that 1) prohibits executive agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations and legal actions (including extradition) that arise from the provision of reproductive health care that is legal in Rhode Island and 2) directs the Rhode Island Department of Health to work with boards of professional licensure to protect providers from out-of-state sanctions.[13]R.I. Exec. Order, No. 22-28 (Jul. 5, 2022). Rhode Island will begin providing public funding for abortion care.[14]H.B. 5006, 2023 Gen. Assemb., Jan. Sess. (RI 2023), to be codified at 42 R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-12.3-3.
Post-Roe Prohibitions
Rhode Island repealed its pre-Roe ban in 1973[15]11 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 11-3-1 (1956), repealed by 1973 R.I. Pub. Laws 68, ch. 15 §1. and its unconstitutional post-Roe criminal ban in 2019.[16]11 R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-3-1—11-3-55, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 2, codified at 23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-1; see Doe v. Israel, 358 F. Supp. 1193 (D.R.I. 1973).
Conclusion
Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe, abortion will remain legal in Rhode Island. In 2019, Rhode Island enacted a law to protect abortion and repealed various existing abortion restrictions.
References
↑1 | 23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-2(d). |
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↑2 | 23 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-4.7-6. |
↑3 | Id. |
↑4 | 216 R.I. CODE R. 20-10-6.3. |
↑5 | 23 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 23-3-17. |
↑6 | See, e.g., id. § 23-4.7-7. |
↑7 | 23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-2(a) (repealed R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-3 et seq.). |
↑8 | 11 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 11-23-5, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 4. |
↑9 | 23 R.I. GEN. LAWS §§ 23-4.12-1—23-4.12-6, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 6; Rhode Island Med. Soc’y. v. Whitehouse, 239 F.3d 104, 106 (1st Cir. 2001). |
↑10 | 27 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 27-18-28, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, §7; Nat’l Educ. Ass’n of Rhode Island. v. Garrahy, 598 F. Supp. 1374, 1384 (D.R.I. 1984), aff’d, 779 F.2d 790 (1st Cir. 1986). |
↑11 | R.I. CONST. art. 1, § 2 (1986). |
↑12 | 216 R.I. CODE R. § 20-10-6.3. |
↑13 | R.I. Exec. Order, No. 22-28 (Jul. 5, 2022). |
↑14 | H.B. 5006, 2023 Gen. Assemb., Jan. Sess. (RI 2023), to be codified at 42 R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-12.3-3. |
↑15 | 11 R.I. GEN. LAWS § 11-3-1 (1956), repealed by 1973 R.I. Pub. Laws 68, ch. 15 §1. |
↑16 | 11 R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-3-1—11-3-55, repealed by 2019 R.I. Pub. Laws, ch. 27, § 2, codified at 23 R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.13-1; see Doe v. Israel, 358 F. Supp. 1193 (D.R.I. 1973). |