NM Religious Coalition for
Reproductive Choice 2013
Legislative Report
The Religious Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan education and advocacy
organization of religious and religiously affiliated groups working together to
preserve the individual’s right to reproductive choice, free from government
interference or coercion, and religious freedom for all Americans.
While theologically diverse, Religious Coalition members are unified in their
commitment to safeguarding reproductive choice as an element of religious
liberty and appreciate the opportunity to consult and work together on issues of
common interest.
Coalition membership does not require or imply conformity to all the actions
and initiatives of the Coalition. Each denomination and group is free to express
its own opinions and beliefs on any topic. However, the member groups
appreciate and support the value of working together for shared values of
justice, tolerance, and religious freedom.
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
1413 K Street NW, 14th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005 (202)628.7700
Conservative Judaism

Rabbinical Assembly

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
Episcopal Church
Ethical Culture

American Ethical Union National Service Conference
Humanist Judaism

Society for Humanistic Judaism
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Reconstructionist Judaism

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Reform Judaism

Central Conference of American Rabbis

North American Federation of Temple Youth

Union for Reform Judaism

Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple
Sisterhoods

Women’s Rabbinic Network of Central Conference of
American Rabbis
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church

General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist
Church

General Board of Global Ministries, Women’s Division,
United Methodist Church
Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalist Association

Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation

Young Religious Unitarian Universalists

Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network
Caucuses/Organizations

American Jewish Committee

American Jewish Congress

Anti-Defamation League

Catholics for Choice

Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT)

Church of the Brethren Women's Caucus

Disciples for Choice

Episcopal Urban Caucus

Episcopal Women’s Caucus

Hadassah, WZOA

Jewish Women International

Lutheran Women’s Caucus

Methodist Federation for Social Action

NA’AMAT USA

National Council of Jewish Women

Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO)

Women’s American ORT

YWCA of the USA
California
Mary Larson
817 W. 34th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Phone: (213) 748-0200
mlarson@californiarcrc.org
http://Californiarcrc.org
Colorado
Betty Serotta
P.O. Box 370414
Denver, CO 80237
Phone & Fax: (303) 7569996
bserotta@comcast.net
www.corcrc.org
Connecticut
Kate Lannamann
P.O. Box 477
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
Phone: (203) 769-5374
Rcrcofct@aol.com
www.rcrc-ct.org
Florida
Dorothy Chaney
dctwobytwo@aol.com
Phone: (202) 628-7700
Illinois
Rev. Ed Searl
C/O Unitarian Universalist
Church of Hinsdale
17 W. Maple St, Hinsdale, IL 60521
Phone: (630) 323-2885
rcrc_il@hotmail.com
www.rcrcil.blogspot.com
Indiana
Sue Ellen Braunlin
P.O. Box 723
Lafayette, IN 47902-0723
Phone: (317) 695-1025
info@ircrc.org www.ircrc.org
Kansas
Diane Wahto
1912 Park Place
Wichita, KS 67203
Phone: 316-265-6564
dwahto@cox.net
Kentucky
Carol Savkovich
P.O. Box 4065
Louisville, KY 40204-0065
Phone: (866) 606-0988
info@krcrc.org
http://www.krcrc.org/
Massachusetts
Rev. Jennie Barrett-Siegal
25 Columbian St., Weymouth, MA
02190
Phone: (781) 335-2545
jennie@osuchurch.org
Michigan
Joy Whitten
PO Box 739
East Lansing, MI 48826
mircrc@mircrc.org
Minnesota
Rev. Kelli Clement
122 W. Franklin Ave,
Ste #303
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: (612) 870-0974
execdir@mnrcrc.org
www.mnrcrc.org
New Mexico
Joan Lamunyon Sanford
P.O. Box 66433
Albuquerque, NM 87193
Phone: (505) 890-1010
info@nmrcrc.org
www.nmrcrc.org
Ohio
Cathy Levy
PO Box 82204
Columbus, Ohio 43202
Phone: (614) 221-3636
ohiorcrc@sbcglobal.net
www.ohiorcrc.org
Oklahoma
Kelly Jennings
P.O. Box 35194, Tulsa, OK
74153
Phone and fax: (918) 4816444
contact@okrcrc.org
www.okrcrc.org
Pennsylvania
Rev. Marvin Marsh
20232 Valley Forge Circle
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610-547-3438
drmarvinamarsh@aol.com
Rhode Island
Rabbi Peter Stein
Temple Sinai
30 Hagan Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 421-7820 X3999
Stein@TempleSinaiRI.org
Texas
Fred Campbell
P.O.Box 3934
Austin, TX 78764-3934
Phone: (210) 416-7889
info@rcrc.org
Wisconsin
Cathy Thompson
PO Box 2504, Appleton,
WI 54912
Phone: (920) 319-4388
wi_rcrc@yahoo.com
Reproductive Justice
As people of religious faith and conviction, the NM Religious Coalition
for Reproductive Choice supports reproductive justice for every person.
Our struggle for reproductive justice includes these core values:
That families are created in many ways.
That all families should have the resources to care for their children
with dignity.
That all persons desiring to be parents should have the right and
opportunity to do so.
That no one should be forced into parenthood, or into narrowlydefined parenting roles.
That the sexual experiences of consenting adults are not open to
government inspection, opinion, and legislation.
That all persons have a right to privacy.
Reproductive Justice
That all persons have a right to education and employment without
discrimination based on gender, pregnancy, or sexual orientation or identity.
That no person should ever be forced or coerced into contraception,
sterilization, or abortion.
That caring communities have a responsibility to ensure that all young people
have access to medically accurate, comprehensive sex education.
That all people should have access to all reproductive and sexual health
information and services, including birthing options, contraception,
sterilization and abortion.
That all persons should be able to live a life free from violence, including
physical and sexual violence, which prevents them from controlling their
sexual and reproductive lives.
That sexually transmitted infections are not a result of moral failure, and the
best medical information, prevention, and treatment should be available to all.
That sex is a glorious component of the human experience, a gift of the Divine,
to be expressed with respect, responsibility, and joy.
Action
Volunteer
Clinic Escorts
Drivers
Homestay Hosts
All Options Clergy
Counselors
Education
Invite NM RCRC to your
faith community.
Convene a study group .
Host a forum.
Public Witness
Letters to elected officials.
Reproductive Justice
Advocacy Day.
Marches, rallies, or other
courageous public actions.
Financial Support
Sponsor the non-medical
costs for a low-income
woman needing abortion
care.
Make NM RCRC a line item
in your faith community’s
budget.
Advocacy
NM Coalition for Choice
Planned Parenthood,
ACLU-NM,
AAUW-NM,
Santa Fe NOW
SW Women’s Law Center
Young Women United
NM-ACOG
Health Care for All
Health Action NM,
Voices for Children NM,
Center for Law and Poverty,
League of Women Voters,
Lutheran Advocacy
Ministries
Many Others
Advocacy
Collect a special offering for
NM RCRC.
Donate your birthday or
other celebration to NM
RCRC.
Make a regular donation to
NM RCRC.
All volunteer
30 days even/60
days odd
3rd Tues in Jan.
House - 70 members
2 year terms
Speaker of the
House
38 Democrats, 32
Republicans
Senate - 42 members
4 year terms
President Pro
Tempore
Lt. Governor –
President of the
Senate
25 Democrats, 17
Republicans
Interim Committees
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Understanding the
Roundhouse
Bill
Used to propose
and change laws
Memorial
Used to express
legislative desire
or direction
(no force of law)
House, Senate or
Joint
Does not have to
be signed by
Governor
Joint Resolution
Used to propose
amendments to the
state constitution
Does not have to be
signed by Governor
Must be voted on
by the citizens
Types of Legislation
HB Bill
206
becomes
Law!
Bill Process
HB
206
House
Governor
Legislature can
override veto
2/3 of
each chamber
COMMITTEE
1
COMMITTEE
2
COMMITTEE
3
Senate
3 days
to
sign or veto
Pocket veto:
Governor fails
to sign
within 20 days
within last 3 days
Gov. has 20 days to
sign or veto
COMMITTEE
1
COMMITTEE
3
COMMITTEE
2
Anti-choice Bills
HB 82, Unborn Victims of Violence Act. HB 82 was
tabled by the House Consumer and Public Affairs
Committee on January 24, 2013.
HB 177, Parental Rights Notification Act. HB 177 was
tabled by the House Consumer and Public Affairs
Committee on January 31, 2013.
HB 122, Woman’s Right to Know Act. HB 122 was
tabled by the House Consumer and Public Affairs
Committee on January 31, 2013.
HB 206, Abortion as Evidence Tampering. The sponsor
withdrew the bill, it was never scheduled for a hearing.
SB 291, Parental Notification Act, Tabled by Senate
Public Affairs Committee March 8, 2013.
Bills we opposed
HJR 4, Defining Marriage as the union of one man
and one woman. Tabled by the House Consumer and
Public Affairs Committee February 5, 2013.
SB 361, Repeal School Athletic Equity Act, Passed
the Senate Education Committee, 2/22/13, tabled in
the Senate Public Affairs Committee 3/4/13.
Reproductive Justice Bills
HJR 3, Marriage Equality, Tabled by the House Voters
and Elections Committee.
HB 17, Dental Therapists Act. Tabled by the House
Business and Industry Committee.
HB 38/508, Termination of Parental Rights for Rape,
Stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but will be
considered by the Interim Courts, Corrections
and Justice Committee for the 2014 legislative
session.
SB 313, Biomedical Research Act. Ran out of time on the
House floor on the last day of the session 3/17/13.
SB 43, Requiring Health Services for Pregnant Women.
“Pocket vetoed” by the Governor April 5, 2013
Reproductive Justice Bills that will become law!
SB 221, Health Insurance Exchange Act The Governor signed the
Health Insurance Exchange Act on March 28, 2013! It goes into effect
immediately.
HB 216, Fair Pay for Women Act. The Governor signed the Fair Pay
for Women Act on March 14, 2013. It goes into effect July 1, 2013.
HB 300/SB 382, Excused Absences for Pregnant and Parenting
Students, Signed by the Governor April 5, 2013. It goes into effect July
1, 2013.
HB 304, Human Trafficking Remedies and Services, Signed by the
Governor April 5, 2013. It goes into effect July 1, 2013.
HB 658, Registration of Fetal Deaths and Certificate of Still Birth.
Signed by the Governor April 4, 2013. It goes into effect July 1, 2013.
HM 7, Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Extension, Passed the
House of Representatives 2/14/13. No additional action is needed for a
Memorial.
What to expect in 2014
Forced parental notification
TRAP – Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers
Elections
House of Representative Legislators
Governor
Secretary of State
Auditor
Attorney General
What Can You Do?
Spread the Word! Forward our e-Newsletters to friends.
Write an article for the NM RCRC newsletter of blog.
Submit an Op-ed or letter to the editor on a critical reproductive justice issue.
Contact legislators re: critical reproductive justice issues.
Attend the Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day in Santa Fe each January.
Speak at local marches, rallies, or other courageous public actions.
Volunteer to host a low-income woman needing abortion care. (Albuquerque only)
Donate your birthday or other celebration to NM RCRC.
Make a regular donation to NM RCRC.
Join our Anti-choice Watchdog Project!
We need activists who will sign up to receive your local anti-choice groups
newsletters and email alerts and then forward them to us.
We also need activists who will go undercover and attend anti-choice training
classes and meetings so that we can be prepared for anti-choice actions and events.
Join our Congregational Advocacy Program!
A member Congregation is:
A faith community that urges members to communicate and engage
with elected officials regarding the critical reproductive justice issues of
the day.
A faith community that respects the value of potential human life while
remaining firmly committed to women as responsible, moral decisionmakers.
A faith community that believes the ability to make moral decisions—
including about reproductive issues—is the very basis of an individual’s
dignity.
Congregational Advocacy
In this partnership, member Congregations commit to at least
three of the following activities, preferably one from each section:
Education
Invite staff/board from NM RCRC to teach and/or preach in your faith community.
Convene a reproductive justice study group related to your tradition’s scriptures or important
texts.
Host a forum with elected officials and/or on a critical reproductive justice issue.
Public Witness
Collect letters from members to legislators re: critical reproductive justice issues.
Send members to Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day in Santa Fe each January.
Help organize or attend marches, rallies, or other courageous public actions.
Financial Support
Sponsor the non-medical costs for a low-income woman needing abortion care.
Make NM RCRC a line item in your faith community’s budget.
Collect a special offering for NM RCRC.
New Mexico Religious Coalition
for Reproductive Choice
PO Box 66433, Albuquerque, NM
505-890-1010
info@nmrcrc.org www.nmrcrc.org
@nmrcrc facebook.com/NMRCRC