S.J.R. 21

1

JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PREGNANCY CARE
2 CENTERS
3 2012 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams
6 House Sponsor: Bill Wright
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature recognizes pregnancy care centers and expresses
11 support for their efforts on behalf of those facing unplanned pregnancies.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . expresses strong support for pregnancy care centers for their unique, positive
15 contributions to the individual lives of women, men, and babies;
16 . recognizes the compassionate work of tens of thousands of volunteers and paid staff
17 at pregnancy care centers in Utah and across the United States;
18 . strongly encourages the United States Congress and other federal and government
19 agencies to grant pregnancy care centers assistance for medical equipment and
20 abstinence education in a manner that does not compromise the mission or religious
21 integrity of these organizations; and
22 . expresses disapproval of the actions of any national, state, or local groups
23 attempting to prevent pregnancy care centers from effectively serving women and
24 men in relation to unplanned pregnancies.
25 Special Clauses:
26 None
27

28 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 WHEREAS, the life-affirming impact of pregnancy care centers on the women, men,
30 children, and communities they serve is considerable and growing;
31 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers serve women in Utah and across the United States
32 with integrity and compassion;
33 WHEREAS, more than 2,500 pregnancy care centers across the United States provide
34 comprehensive care to women and men in relation to unplanned pregnancies, including
35 resources to meet their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs;
36 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers offer women free, confidential, and compassionate
37 services, including pregnancy tests, peer counseling, 24-hour telephone hotlines, childbirth and
38 parenting classes, and referrals to community, health care and other supportive services;
39 WHEREAS, many medical pregnancy care centers offer ultrasounds and other medical
40 services;
41 WHEREAS, many pregnancy care centers provide information on adoption and
42 adoption referrals to pregnant women;
43 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers encourage women to make positive life choices by
44 equipping them with complete and accurate information regarding their pregnancy options and
45 the development of their unborn children;
46 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers provide women with compassionate and
47 confidential peer counseling in a nonjudgmental manner regardless of their pregnancy
48 outcomes;
49 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers provide important support and resources for
50 women who choose childbirth over abortion;
51 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers ensure that women are receiving prenatal
52 information and services that lead to the birth of healthy infants;
53 WHEREAS, many pregnancy care centers provide grief assistance for women and men
54 who regret the loss of their children from past choices they have made;
55 WHEREAS, many pregnancy care centers work to prevent unplanned pregnancies by
56 teaching effective abstinence education in public schools;
57 WHEREAS, both federal and state governments are increasingly recognizing the
58 valuable services of pregnancy care centers through the designation of public funds for such

59 organizations;
60 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers operate primarily through reliance on the voluntary
61 donations and time of individuals who are committed to caring for the needs of women and
62 promoting and protecting life; and
63 WHEREAS, pregnancy care centers provide full disclosure, in both their
64 advertisements and direct contact with women, of the types of services they provide:
65 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
66 expresses strong support for pregnancy care centers for their unique, positive contributions to
67 the individual lives of women, men, and babies -- both born and unborn.
68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes the compassionate work
69 of tens of thousands of volunteers and paid staff at pregnancy care centers in Utah and across
70 the United States.
71 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah strongly
72 encourages the United States Congress and other federal and government agencies to grant
73 pregnancy care centers assistance for medical equipment and abstinence education in a manner
74 that does not compromise the mission or religious integrity of these organizations.
75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah expresses
76 disapproval of the actions of any national, state, or local groups attempting to prevent
77 pregnancy care centers from effectively serving women and men in relation to unplanned
78 pregnancies.
79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to each pregnancy
80 care center in Utah, the President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States
81 Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to the members of
82 Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-16-12 10:31 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel