Resolve, Directing the Bureau of Health To Study the Effectiveness and Quality of Reproductive Counseling
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1512
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: DAIGLE

Legislative Document 
No. 1512 
H.P.1057 
House of Representatives, March 30, 2005 
Resolve, Directing the Bureau of Health To Study the Effectiveness 
and Quality of Reproductive Counseling 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative DAIGLE of Arundel. 
Printed on recycled paper 
'!r/~m.11!~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Sec. 1. Bureau of Health study. Resolved: 
That the Department 
of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health shall conduct a 
study, 
with 
the 
voluntary 
cooperation 
of 
medical 
service 
providers and patients and safeguarding the autonomy of patients, 
of 
the 
effectiveness 
and quality of 
reproductive 
counseling 
required for minors under current law. 
The study must include 
the following. 
1. 
Predisposition of client. 
The 
study 
must 
identify 
whether 
each 
client 
approaches 
the 
counseling 
with 
any 
predisposi tion with regard to choosing an abortion or carrying 
the pregnancy to term. 
2. 
Neutrality and appropriateness. 
The study must examine 
whether the content and presentation of information regarding 
both medical and psychological aspects of an abortion as well as 
responses to the client I s questions are nondirective, objective 
and factual with regard to choosing an abortion or carrying the 
pregnancy to term. 
The 
study must also examine whether the 
information and answers are appropriately geared to the level of 
understanding of each particular client. 
3. 
Outcome. 
The 
study 
must 
identify 
the 
number 
of 
abortions performed or induced after counseling, as well as the 
number 
of clients counseled 
who 
did not 
choose 
to 
have 
an 
abortion performed or induced. 
4. 
Assessment of effectiveness of counseling. 
The study 
must assess the effectiveness of counseling. 
Effectiveness must 
be 
determined by examining whether 
each client received and 
comprehended the information to make an informed decision whether 
to have an abortion; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Funding. Resolved: 
That the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Bureau of Health may seek outside funds to fully 
fund all costs of the study. 
Contributions to support the study 
may not be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other 
vested interest in the outcome of the matters being studied; and 
be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Report and recommendations. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health shall 
report its recommendations to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters no later 
than February 1, 2007. 
The Bureau of Health shall include any 
recommendations for changes in procedures, rules and law. 
The 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over judiciary matters may report out legislation to the l23rd 
Legislature related to the findings and recommendations. 
Page l-LR1592(1) 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Bureau of Health to study the effectiveness and quality 
of reproductive counseling for women considering an abortion. 
The bureau shall collect information about the predisposition, if 
any, of persons undergoing counseling required when a minor seeks 
an abortion. 
The study must also include an examination of the 
counseling and information being provided, including whether it 
is nondirective, 
objective, 
factual 
and 
comprehended 
by each 
client. 
The study must also identify the number of persons who 
received counseling and the number of abortions performed after 
counseling. 
Finally, the study must include an assessment of the 
effectiveness of the counseling. 
Effectiveness is to be assessed 
in the context of providing information essential to making an 
informed decision of whether to have an abortion or to carry the 
pregnancy to 
term, 
not 
whether 
a 
particular outcome of 
the 
counseling results. 
The bureau may accept outside funding as 
long as it is not provided by anyone with a pecuniary or vested 
interest in the study. 
The bureau will report its findings and recommendations, if 
any, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over judiciary matters no later than February 1, 
2007. 
The 
joint standing committee of 
the Legislature have 
jurisdiction over judiciary matters may report out legislation to 
the 123rd Legislature related to the findings and recommendations.