Statement By Attorney General Eliot Spitzer Regarding Senate Passage Of Clinic Access Legislation

The State Senate has taken an important step forward in passing legislation to safeguard women's access to reproductive health services. The Senate bill (S6004) would strengthen the ability of state and local law enforcement to respond when obstruction, intimidation and violence are used to deter women from seeking the health care that they need, or to deter doctors, hospitals, and other providers from offering services.

It is now incumbent on the Senate and the Assembly to capitalize on this new momentum by working together to resolve their differences on both clinic access legislation, and effective, enforceable anti-stalking legislation.

In addition, it is imperative that the budget includes sufficient funding for state enforcement efforts to ensure that women continue to have access to reproductive health services.