5 things to know today: Abortion Bill, False Claims, Voter Citizenship, Drug Costs, Sanctuary Cities – InForum

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1. Amendments requested for a bill that would revise North Dakota’s abortion laws

From the Bismarck Tribune via Forum News Service

Doctors are calling for changes to a bill put forward by supporters as clarifying North Dakota’s abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s strike down of the constitutional right to abortion the last year.

Suggested changes include making it easier for pregnant women in dire medical situations to have abortions.

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 2150 on Monday, introduced by Senator Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburgh, who said it was about “figuring out how to make the language that was already on the books concise and unambiguous” in the state. Prohibition of inducing abortion in 2007 and “heartbeat bill” in 2013. The latter prohibits abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected – from six weeks – except in the event of a medical emergency preventing the compliance with the law.

“This bill is not about whether you support or oppose abortion. This bill is about cleaning up certain terms,” ​​Myrdal told the Senate panel.

The Red River Women’s Clinic, North Dakota’s only abortion provider, moved from Fargo to Moorhead, Minn., following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June that triggered the law’s entry into force. of 2007 from North Dakota. The clinic is challenging state law, which would ban virtually all abortions except for cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. The state Supreme Court will soon rule on a judge’s temporary blocking of the trip ban.

Under the ban, doctors could be charged with a Class C felony for performing abortions in medical emergencies and rape or incest cases, but they could argue in court that the defenses affirmatives for rape, incest and the protection of a mother’s life provided by law protect them from criminal liability.

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2. The bill would criminalize false allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination

North Dakota State Rep. Eric Murphy, a Republican, is also a professor at the University of North Dakota.

Photo submitted

State Rep. Eric Murphy, a Republican from Grand Forks, introduced a bill that would impose criminal penalties on those who make false claims of sexual harassment or discrimination under Title IX laws.

According to the legislation, House Bill 1256, a person who makes such an allegation which is later found to be false and frivolous “would be guilty of a Class C felony. Further, anyone who willfully encourages someone to make a false allegation is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Murphy, an associate professor of biomedical sciences in the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, was charged and later cleared of Title IX misconduct last September, following allegations by a colleague .

Murphy said he thought the bill had broad support in the House.

I think a lot of House members are tired of weaponizing these kinds of allegations,” Murphy said. After my own personal experience, many of my House colleagues have asked me what are the protections against false accusations? and I told them there was none.

Read more from Forum News Service’s Joe Banish

3. Bill would require voters in North Dakota to prove their citizenship

Voters cast their ballots at the Bismarck Event Center on November 3, 2020.

Kyle Martin / The Forum

Republican lawmakers in North Dakota have introduced a bill that says “a qualified voter must provide satisfactory proof of citizenship” before receiving a ballot.

The issue of proving citizenship arose during June’s Cass County primary election, when people of color said they were turned away from the West Acres polling station in Fargo after being unable to immediately prove their citizenship .

Subsequently, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley issued an opinion about a week before Election Day in November, confirming an earlier opinion from Cass County State’s Attorney Birch Burdick, who contended that state law had no statutory requirement or constitutionally authorized method for exacting proof. citizenship of voters.

The result of these opinions was that the current law does not allow an election official to require a voter to prove their citizenship in order to vote.

State Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, one of the lawmakers sponsoring the new bill, Senate Bill 2157, said the legislation would amend and expand the current law to make it clear voters must provide proof of citizenship before being allowed to vote.

Read more from David Olson from the Forum

4. North Dakota lawmakers consider bill to stem drug prices for public officials

AARP North Dakota State Chair Kathi Schwan of West Fargo testifies Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, on Senate Bill 2031, addressing prescription drug prices for North Dakotans.

Darren Gibbins / The Bismarck Tribune

High pharmacy counter prices have become a reality for many North Dakotans, but seniors’ advocates say the state can lower prescription drug costs by following Canada’s lead.

Several state lawmakers and AARP representatives have rallied behind Senate Bill 2031, a complex proposal that seeks to reduce drug prices for the approximately 60,000 current and retired public employees and their dependents who are insured through the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS.

Pharmaceutical companies and insurers say the plan would reduce the availability of lifesaving drugs and hamper the development of new cures. State officials say the proposed program is unrealistic.

Under the five-page proposal, PERS would be responsible for identifying the 25 most expensive prescription drugs for its members.

Then, the state insurance commissioner would reference the prices of the same drugs in four Canadian provinces to set caps on what local pharmacies and health insurance companies can pay drug companies for the drugs.

In theory, limiting the amount that pharmacies and insurers are allowed to pay for drugs would result in savings for PERS and its members.

Read more from Jeremy Turley from Forum News Service

5. North Dakota House proposes bill banning “sanctuary” towns

The North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck. Photo illustration by Troy Becker

The North Dakota House of Representatives has proposed legislation prohibiting local governments from establishing policies that impede cooperation with immigration officials.

The Republican-dominated House voted 80 to 11 to approve House Bill 1155, sponsored by Rep. Matt Heilman, R-Bismarck. The proposal will go to the Senate when the chamber exchange passes legislation in March.

Forum News Service found no evidence that any jurisdiction in North Dakota has adopted a policy to limit coordination with immigration officials.

Read more from Jeremy Turley from Forum News Service

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