The Montgomery County Council voted 7-2 on February 2, 2010 to pass an amended regulation that required centers providing pregnancy-related services to post a sign stating if there is no medical professional on staff and that women who may be pregnant should consult a medical provider.
The Archdiocese of Washington and the Maryland Catholic Conference opposed the amendment and the final regulation (read the Archdiocese's legal brief). While it made a bad bill less onerous, it still applied de facto only to pro-life pregnancy centers, which are already overwhelmingly successful at getting pregnant women into prenatal care. It also set a dangerous precedent of regulation of pro-life organizations.
In 2010, Centro Tepeyac Women's Center in Silver Spring sued Montgomery County on the grounds that the law restricted freedom of speech.
** On March 15, 2011, a US District Court judge issued a partial victory, ruling that the county cannot require pregnancy centers to post signs implying that pregnant women should seek care elsewhere. However, until a trial is held, the county may still require signsthat licensed medical professionals are not on staff.
The original version of the regulation as introduced would have required pro-life pregnancy resource centers to tell new clients that the information they provide is not intended to be medical advice and to turn to other providers before “proceeding on a course of action regarding [her] pregnancy.” It would have imposed a fine of up to $750 per day for not doing so.
Read the amended regulation.
Catholic Standard story on the regulation.
The Archdiocese of Washington's legal brief on the problems with the amended regulation.
Fact sheet on the (original, as introduced) Montgomery County proposal.
Archdiocese of Washington statement on the regulation as introduced.
Washington Post editorial opposes regulation harassing pregnancy resource centers.
