LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The House Judiciary Committee took up legislation regarding an amendment to the Elliot-Larsen law which struck out a clause regarding those who have had an abortion that was not intended to save the life of the mother. 

Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) spoke on behalf of her bill, Senate Bill 147, which she claimed would protect people from discrimination and retributions for pregnancy, childbirth, termination of a pregnancy, or related medical conditions under the act.   

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“It is therefore necessary to ensure that this loophole is closed so that employers that are hostile to abortion and believe that they need to insert themselves in people’s reproductive health decisions do not violate the state constitution and that individuals are protected from retaliation and firing,” Senator Geiss said. 

House Judiciary Chair and Representative Kelly Breen (D-Novi) asked about how an employer might treat someone differently who has had an abortion. 

“They could demote them, they could potentially fire them, they could reduce their hours, there are a range of employer/employee related things that an employer could enact on the employee who might have had an abortion or has a related medical condition from it,” Senator Geiss said. 

Representative Andrew Fink (R-Hillsdale) questioned the senator twice about concerns that the bill would require an employer with a mission oriented around a pro-life cause to cover in their health plans an abortion.

“This is not about health plans, that’s an entirely separate area of law,” Senator Geiss said, “this is about the civil rights protections for an individual who is exercising their constitutional right to for the bodily autonomy to make their own decisions and not be retaliated against by their employer for doing so.” 

Representative Fink asked a follow up question about whether it would still apply to a religious employer such as the Catholic Church. 

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“You can’t use religion as a shield for bigotry, so yes,” Senator Geiss said. 

Director for Right to Life Michigan, Genevieve Marnon, testified against the bill because it could harm families.  

“Prop 3 nondiscrimination clause only applies to state actors not private employers,” Marnon said, “Yet Senate Bill 147 will apply to all employers making them provide the same ‘term, condition, compensation’ etc for employment.” 

“I urge your no vote because there is no religious carve out, there is no conscience protections in this bill, and it could force employers like Right to Life of Michigan to allow abortion benefits as part of their employee compensation,” she continued. 

Meriss Kovach, Legislative Director of the ACLU of Michigan spoke in support of the bill because it would reduce workplace discrimination against someone who has had an abortion. 

“In a state where studies show one in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime, and where a main factor in why someone may choose to have an abortion and discontinue a pregnancy is because they do not believe they are financially able to support a child.” 

The majority of the committee approved the bill, and will send it to the House for later consideration.