Positive Alternatives Act Uniting Minnesota's Lawmakers to Help Women in Need
Innovative Minnesota bill would provide state funds to pregnancy care centers, adoption agencies
By Bill Poehler
MCCL Communications Associate

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) made state history last month when the "Positive Alternatives Act" was introduced, cosponsored by majorities in both chambers.

This innovative, life-affirming legislation to help pregnant women is MCCL's top legislative priority. It is bringing together state legislators to help pregnant women.

"We are very pleased to see so many legislators in both parties sign on to this life-affirming legislation," said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. "The Positive Alternatives Act will help to guarantee that every woman facing an unexpected pregnancy will have the support she needs to give birth to her baby. No woman in Minnesota should ever feel that the only way to deal with a pregnancy is to kill her unborn child. We can do better!"

Fischbach praised MCCL's three legislative associates - - Laura Gese, Jackie Moen, and Andrea Rau - - for their hard work in gaining majority support for the bill.

Real Help for Women in Need

Positive Alternatives would provide practical help to women in need by making state grants available to life-affirming organizations such as pregnancy care centers, adoption agencies, and maternity homes. These organizations help more than 50,000 women each year; additional funds would enable them to provide needed services to many more women.

Fulfilling the "Childbirth Statute"

Positive Alternatives would help fulfill a long-standing state policy - - "that normal childbirth is to be given preference" - - by making $4 million in state grants available each biennium to life-affirming organizations that help women through pregnancy, birth, and their first year of motherhood.

Participating programs must provide information and/or direct service to women in the following areas:

* Medical attention for the woman and the unborn child,

* Nutritional support services,

* Housing assistance,

* Adoption services,

* Education and employment assistance, and

* Parenting education and support services.

To be eligible for a service grant, an agency or organization must:

* Be a private, nonprofit corporation;

* Demonstrate that the program is conducted under appropriate supervision;

* Not charge the woman for services provided under the program;

* Provide each pregnant woman counseled with accurate information on the developmental characteristics of unborn children;

* Assure that the program's sole purposes are to assist and encourage women to carry their children to term and to maximize their potentials thereafter;

* Assure that none of the funds provided are used to encourage or counsel a woman to have an abortion not necessary to prevent her death, to provide her such an abortion, or to refer her for such an abortion; and

* Have had an alternatives-to-abortion program in existence for at least one year.

Public Information Campaign

Another $1 million would fund a public information campaign by the Minnesota Department

of Health. The campaign would educate citizens about fetal development, abortion alternatives, prenatal care, adoption services, parenting support, and other services available to women from these organizations.

"Many women need help with prenatal care, nutrition, housing, education, employment, and parenting. These centers are the most efficient way to deliver these services to women in need," Fischbach explained.

Women and Children Will Benefit

A total of 38 state senators and 74 representatives have cosponsored the Positive Alternatives Act. The chief authors of Positive Alternatives (S.F. 917, H.F. 952) are Sen. Dallas Sams, (DFL-Staples), and Rep. Brad Finstad, (R-New Ulm.) Rep. Finstad expressed his gratitude to MCCL at a February 10 press conference announcing the bill's introduction.

"I personally have to thank MCCL's staff for their hard work in achieving the huge number of sponsors for Positive Alternatives," Rep. Finstad told the media. "This bill provides the support needed by women and families facing the challenges of pregnancy."

Support from Governor, Health Department

In addition, pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty strongly supports Positive Alternatives and has added it to his budget for the next biennium. The Minnesota Department of Health has also expressed its support of the measure.

"Positive Alternatives is good for Minnesota's women and children, and that fact is being recognized by our state officials," Fischbach declared.

Similar legislation was passed in Pennsylvania in 1996. The Minnesota bill has caught the attention of the New York Times, the Associated Press, national talk radio programs, and other media outlets. It could become model legislation for state pro-life organizations across the U.S. to help women choose life.

Citizens Must Actively Support Bill

Even though majorities of senators and representatives support Positive Alternatives, its passage is by no means assured. The bill must still be carefully ushered through the committee process in both chambers, and then passed by the full Senate and House. Amendments to weaken or kill the legislation could be added at any point.