Pregnant women; SHHR to establish website to provide services and programs available.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify that the website must include mental health counseling, financial help, healthcare options, or other support programs beyond what is listed in the official text.

Website for Pregnant Women's Services

This bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner to create a website by July 1, 2027, that provides information about services and programs available to pregnant women.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner to establish and maintain a website by July 1, 2027, providing information on resources for mental health counseling, pregnancy counseling, alternatives to abortion, risks associated with abortion, child development, federal, state, local, and private programs available to pregnant women.
• The website must be updated annually and include a portal that allows users to receive tailored pregnancy information and submit feedback.
• Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to report to lawmakers within 180 days after setting up the website on traffic, user feedback, gaps in services for pregnant and postpartum women, and recommendations based on user feedback.

Who It Names or Affects

• Pregnant women who need information on health care, financial help, or other support programs.
• The Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner responsible for creating and maintaining the website.

Terms To Know

Secretary of Health and Human Resources

A high-ranking official in charge of health services in Virginia.

State Health Commissioner

The top medical officer responsible for public health issues in the state.

Limits and Unknowns

• It is not clear how much funding will be provided to create and maintain this website.
• The bill does not specify what happens if there are gaps in services that cannot be addressed immediately.
• There is no information on how user feedback will be used to improve the site.

Official Summary Text

Secretary of Health and Human Resources; State Health Commissioner; website; services and programs available to pregnant women.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources (the Secretary) and the State Health Commissioner, by July 1, 2027, to establish, maintain, and annually update a website that provides information about public and private agencies, services, and programs available to pregnant women. The bill specifies that the website shall include a portal that allows users to receive specifically tailored pregnancy information and provides for the submission of feedback on how user-friendly and helpful the portal was in providing such specifically tailored information.

The bill requires the Secretary to submit a report to the General Assembly, no later than 180 days after the website and portal are established, on (i) the traffic on the website and portal; (ii) user feedback submitted regarding the website and portal; (iii) any identified gaps in services for pregnant and postpartum women, including any missing resources helpful to include in future updates; and (iv) recommendations on how to improve the user experience based upon user feedback.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner to establish and maintain a website that provides information about services and programs available to pregnant women; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That
by July 1, 2027
,
the
Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the
State Health
Commissioner
shall establish and maintain
,

and shall update on an annual basis,

a
website
, which shall be available in English and Spanish
,
that is easily accessible and
includes

information
on the following
:

1.

R
esources
for
mental health counseling, pregnancy counseling, and other pre
partum and postpartum services
,
comprehen
s
ive information on alternatives to abortion
,
information on abortion risks, including complications and
failures, and
links to information on child development from the moment of conception
;
and

2
. Federal, state, local, and private programs available to pregnant women
, including:

a
.
Mentorship opportunities, including pregnancy help and case management resources
;

b
.
Health and well-being services, including women
'
s medical services such as obstetrical and gynecological support services for women, abortion pill reversal, breastfeeding, general health services, primary care, and dental care
;

c
.
Financial assistance, work opportunities, nutrition assistance, childcare, and education
al
opportunities
;

d.
Material or legal support, including transportation, food, nutrition, clothing, household goods, baby supplies, housing, shelters, maternity homes, tax preparation, legal support for child support, family leave, breastfeeding protections, and custody issues
;

e.
Recovery and mental health services, including services with respect to addiction or suicide intervention, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, rape, sex trafficking, and counseling for women and families surrounding
the
unexpected loss of a child
;

f
.
Prenatal diagnostic services, including disability support organizations, medical interventions for a baby, perinatal hospice resources, pregnancy and infant loss support, and literature on pregnancy wellness
;

g.
Healing and support services for abortion survivors and their families
; and

h.
Services providing care for children, including family planning education, adoption, foster care, and short-term care resources.

The website shall include a portal that

allows users to receive
specifically
tailored pregnancy information and provides for the submission of feedback on how use
r-friendly and helpful the portal was in providing such specifically tailored information.

No later than 180 days after the
website and portal are established, the Secretary
of Health and Human Resources
shall submit a report to the General Assembly on (i) the traffic on the
website
and portal; (ii) user feedback submitted regarding the website and portal; (iii
) any identified gaps in services for pregnant and postpartum women
, including any missing resources helpful to include in future updates
; and (iv) recommendations on how to improve
the
user experience based
upon user feedback. No personally identifiable information of any user shall be contained in such report.