SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Comprehensive Access to Reproductive Equity Act” or the “CARE Act”.

SECTION 2. PARLIAMENTARY FINDINGS.

  1. The Senate finds and declares that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy with respect to personal reproductive decisions, which entails the right to make and effectuate decisions about all matters relating to pregnancy, including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion care, miscarriage management, and infertility care.
  2. The Senate finds that comprehensive reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion, is a fundamental component of a woman's health, privacy and equality.
  3. The Senate finds, as with other medical procedures, the safety of abortion is furthered by evidence-based practices developed and supported by medical professionals. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures performed in the Republic of Krameria; the goal of medical regulation should be to improve the quality and availability of health care services.
  4. Furthermore, the Senate declares that it is the public policy of the Commonwealth of Arcadia that every individual possesses a fundamental right of privacy and equality with respect to their personal reproductive decisions and should be able to safely effectuate those decisions, including by seeking and obtaining abortion care, free from discrimination in the provision of health care.
  5. The Senate finds that comprehensive reproductive health care is a fundamental component of every individual's health, privacy and equality. Therefore, it is the policy of the Commonwealth of Arcadia that:
    1. Every individual has the fundamental right to choose or refuse contraception or sterilization.
    2. Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry the pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion, pursuant to this article. The state shall not discriminate against, deny, or interfere with the exercise of the rights set forth in this section in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services or information.

SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.

The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Act:

  1. “Abortion” means any medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy except for the purpose of producing a live birth.
  2. “Pregnancy” means the human reproductive process, beginning with the implantation of an embryo.
  3. “Arcadia” means the Commonwealth of Arcadia, and every county, city, town and municipal corporation, and quasi-municipal corporation in the state.
  4. “Reproductive health care services” means and includes all services, care, or products of a medical, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, mental health, behavioral health, preventative, rehabilitative, supportive, consultative, referral, prescribing, or dispensing nature relating to the human reproductive system provided in accordance with the constitution and laws of this state, whether provided in person or by means of telehealth services which includes, but is not limited to, all services, care, and products relating to pregnancy, the termination of a pregnancy, assisted reproduction, or contraception.
  5. “Gender affirming health care” means medically necessary health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:
    1. Interventions to suppress the development of endogenous secondary sex characteristics.
    2. Interventions to align the patient’s appearance or physical body with the patient’s gender identity.
    3. Interventions to alleviate symptoms of clinically significant distress resulting from gender dysphoria, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.
  6. “Gender affirming mental health care” means mental health care or behavioral health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient, and may include, but is not limited to, developmentally appropriate exploration and integration of identity, reduction of distress, adaptive coping, and strategies to increase family acceptance.
  7. “Abortion Services” means any medical or non-medical services related to or provided in conjunction with the voluntary termination of a pregnancy, including the prescription, dispensing, and administration of drugs (medication abortion) and surgical procedures.
  8. “Healthcare Provider” means any entity or individual that is licensed or otherwise authorized by the Republic of Krameria to provide health care services, including physicians, certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, pharmacies, physician assistants and others.
  9. “Undue Burden” means any law, regulation, or requirement that has the purpose or effect of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a patient seeking abortion services, including but not limited to mandatory waiting periods, medically unnecessary ultrasound requirements, or biased counseling mandates or any requirement that fails to confer a significant health benefit that justifies the limitation on access.
  10. “Government entity / official” means any person acting under color of law or any private individual authorized by the State to bring a civil action.