U.S. House of Representatives

Bill HR 361 (2011)

Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011

112th CONGRESS
1st Session

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011'.

SEC. 2. ABORTION NON-DISCRIMINATION.

Section 245 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238n) is amended--

(1) in the section heading, by striking "AND LICENSING OF PHYSICIANS" and inserting LICENSING, AND PRACTICE OF PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE ENTITIES;

(2) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1) the entity refuses--

(A) to undergo training in the performance of induced abortions;

(B) to require or provide such training;

(C) to perform, participate in, provide coverage of, or pay for induced abortions; or

(D) to provide referrals for such training or such abortions;

(3) in subsection (b), by striking "an accreditation standards that requires" and inserting an accreditation standard that requires;

(4) in subsection (c), by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows:

(1) The term `financial assistance', with respect to a government program, means governmental payments to cover the cost of health care services or benefits, or other Federal payments, grants, or loans to promote or otherwise facilitate health-related activities.

(2) The term `health care entity' includes an individual physician or other health professional, a postgraduate physician training program, a participant in a program of training in the health professions, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, an accountable care organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.

(5) in subsection (c), by adding a new paragraph (4) as follows:

(4) The term `State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance' includes any agency or other governmental unit of a State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance.

(6) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and

(7) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

(c) Remedies-

(1) IN GENERAL- The courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of this section by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including--

(A) injunctions prohibiting conduct that violates this section; and

(B) orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of Federal financial assistance to a State or local government, or to a specific offending agency or program of a State or local government, until such time as the conduct prohibited by this section has ceased.

(2) COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION- An action under this section may be instituted by--

(A) any health care entity that has standing to complain of an actual or threatened violation of this section; or

(B) the Attorney General of the United States.

(d) Administration- The Secretary shall designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services--

`(1) to receive complaints alleging a violation of this section; and

`(2) to pursue the investigation of such complaints, in coordination with the Attorney General.