Public Comments for 02/15/2024 Health and Human Services
SB19 - Recovery residences; death and serious injury reports.
SB22 - Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact; authorizes VA to become a signatory to the Compact.
SB35 - Unconscious bias and cultural competency; Bd. of Medicine shall require continuing education, etc.
SB74 - Prescription Monitoring Program; release of records to drug court administrators.
SB173 - Adult day care centers; name changes to adult day centers throughout the Code.
SB325 - Vital records; birth certificates, adoption, members of the military.
SB392 - Hospitals; emergency departments to have at least one licensed physician on duty at all times.
SB537 - Hospital regulations; use of smoke evacuation systems during surgical procedures.
SB610 - Slot-retention requests; Developmental Disability waiver slots, sunset date.
SB629 - Dentists and dental hygienists; added to list of providers who are immune from civil liability, etc.
SB663 - Veterinary Medicine, Board of; powers and duties, satellite offices.
SB716 - Unprofessional conduct; disciplinary action against doctor for providing abortion care, etc.
Members of the Virginia Legislature, I am writing to express my strong support for SB716 and HB519. These bills address an important issue concerning the protection of reproductive rights and the autonomy of healthcare professionals in Virginia. These bills are critical in the fair treatment of doctors providing abortion care, regardless of where the care is provided or received. It is my hope that we can recognize how abortion care is a fundamental aspect of reproductive healthcare. Doctors who provide such care should not face disciplinary action based only on the nature of their service. I am aware, and I hope you are too, of how crucial reproductive rights and access to comprehensive healthcare services is. I urge you to support SB716 and HB519 to protect the rights of healthcare professionals and uphold a patient’s choice to have access to a full spectrum of reproductive healthcare services. SB716 and HB519 support key elements of medical ethics and ensure that healthcare workers can provide inclusive and compassionate care to their patients without fear of punishment. Reproductive care is lawful. Medical care is a basic human right. Abortion is healthcare. Thank you for considering my testimony in support of these bills. Sincerely, Danielle
The League of Women Voters of Virginia supports SB716 As we witness around the US, restrictions and attacks on the rights of recipients and providers of contraception and abortion, both essential elements of reproductive health care, it is prudent to enshrine these protections in Virginia law as SB 716 does. We don’t want to see providers of reproductive health prevented from delivering the care needed by Virginians and having to resort to leaving the state as we have seen happening elsewhere in the US. Likewise, we don’t want Virginia citizens fearful of losing their rights to privacy and essential reproductive health care services. f We know of the many benefits of legal, accessible reproductive health care which include both personal and economic benefits. We urge you to vote YES on SB716.
SB12 - Children's advocacy centers; definitions, investigations by local departments of social services.