Rebekah Warren, an Ann Arbor Democrat and Gilda Jacobs, a Huntington Woods Democrat said that they are going to address the rising cases of STDs and unplanned pregnancies. The Michigan Lawmakers said that they are going to introduce a series of bills to address the crisis.

Warren said in an interview that the statistics are something to be worried about and instead of the funds spent on STDs and unintended pregnancies, the money that you will be able to save can be used on other aspects of the state.

There will be 15 bills that will be addressing the said issues all about sex education, prescriptions, pregnancy center regulation. access for emergency contraception for those sexually abused victims.

H.B. 2472 will regulate the crisis pregnancy centers that they shall provide accurate information and be medically accurate about all the options that a woman has with regard to contraception, abortion, and provide appropriate information about specific education literature given by the Michigan Department of Community Health. When this legislation is passed, the clients would be allowed to sue the pregnancy centers if they violate the act.

Warren has worked in women’s reproductive health beofre being elected into the Michigan House. She said that those organizations have been giving flase information in the past. She said that she just want these women to get unbiased information.

Another bill in the package would amend the current education on abstinece plus education. As of this time, the state mandates an abstinence only education. Abstinence only education may increases the youth to infections because they do not have the “tools” to address the issue. It is necessary that the youth also know how to protect themselves.

Jacobs said that they want the youth to get a good sex education.

In another legislation, the lawmakers want to make available emergency contraceptives to rape victims. Both lawmakers agreed that it would also be better to add antiretroviral medications to prevent infection and HIV.

This might trigger a controversy since this means that pharmacists must issue drugs that are prescribed by doctors. Current rules dictate that the pharmacists may not release medicines if it is against their beliefs.

However, Warren said that the medical treatment is between the doctor and the patient.

Policy director for Right to Life, Ed Rivet, and Dave Maluchnik, spokesman for the Michigan Catholic Conference both said that they are reviewing the legislation before commenting.

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