The Connecticut State Senate on Friday passed legislation protecting abortion providers in an apparent “direct response” to abortion bans enacted in other US states. This means Connecticut has joined other states, like Colorado and California, in becoming a “sanctuary state” for abortion providers, who are becoming persona non grata in other parts of the country.
According to Axios, “if a person is found guilty of providing an abortion under Texas law and flees to Connecticut, the state is required to return that person to Texas. Under the new legislation, the provider would not be extradited back to Texas.”
The bill, dubbed the “Reproductive Freedom Defense Act,” prohibits public entities from aiding the Texas government in furthering its abortion ban.
The bill also changes language in state-level legislation. For example, “pregnant women” will instead be referred to as “patients.”
The bill has passed the State Senate and will head to the desk of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D). He’s said he expects to sign it into law as soon as possible.
