AN ACT relating to the University of Wyoming and community colleges; prohibiting the University of Wyoming and community colleges from expending funds on abortions or insurance coverage for abortions as specified; and providing for an effective date.
AbortionBudgetEducationHealthcareTaxes
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Representative Gray
Last action
2021-04-12
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2021
Plain English Breakdown
The official summary and bill text do not specify the exact nature of 'other available funds' beyond appropriated general funds.
Ban on Higher Education Funding for Abortions
This law stops the University of Wyoming and community colleges from using state money to pay for student abortions or insurance plans that cover them.
What This Bill Does
Prohibits the University of Wyoming and community colleges from expending appropriated general funds on elective abortions for students.
Requires these institutions not to spend any appropriated general funds on group health insurance that covers elective abortions for students.
Makes this law effective starting July 1, 2021.
Who It Names or Affects
The University of Wyoming
Community colleges in Wyoming
Terms To Know
Elective abortion
A medical procedure to end a pregnancy that is not necessary for the health or life of the pregnant person.
Appropriated general funds
Money from taxes and other sources allocated by the legislature specifically for use by government agencies, including schools.
Limits and Unknowns
The law only applies to Wyoming's public universities and community colleges.
It does not cover private funding or insurance plans outside these institutions.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: The amendment changes a bill about funding for abortions at universities and community colleges by adding requirements related to providing contraceptives.
Changes the catch title from 'ban on funding for abortions' to 'abortions and contraceptives'.
Adds new language requiring the University of Wyoming and community colleges to provide health benefits, including long-acting reversible contraceptives, to students who request them.
The amendment text is complex and may have additional implications not fully covered in this summary.
Plain English: The amendment removes existing language and replaces it with new rules prohibiting the University of Wyoming and community colleges from using their funds or federal money to pay for student abortions or health insurance that covers such procedures.
Removes previous restrictions on funding for abortions at higher education institutions.
Adds a new section in state law (W.S. 21-16-1701) prohibiting the University of Wyoming and community colleges from using their funds or federal money to pay for student elective abortions or health insurance that covers such procedures.
The amendment does not specify what happens if a college violates this new rule.
Standing Committee • House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee
Adopted
Plain English: The amendment changes the bill to apply restrictions on funding for abortions and abortion insurance coverage to all higher education institutions in Wyoming, not just the University of Wyoming.
Expands the ban on using funds for abortions or insurance covering abortions from only the University of Wyoming to include community colleges as well.
Adds new requirements for community colleges to receive state funding, including restrictions on spending any type of fund for elective student abortions and abortion coverage in group health insurance.
The amendment text does not specify how existing policies at the University of Wyoming will be affected by these changes.
Plain English: The amendment changes the language in HB0253 to specify that the University of Wyoming and community colleges cannot use appropriated funds for abortions or insurance coverage for abortions.
Changes 'any' to 'appropriated' on page 2, line 6.
Deletes existing text on page 2, line 7, and replaces it with 'funds for:'
Adds 'appropriated general' after 'any' on page 2, line 16.
The amendment's technical changes may not fully clarify the original bill's intent or impact.
Bill History
2021-04-12LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 148
2021-04-12Governor
Governor Signed HEA No. 0089
2021-04-06Senate
S President Signed HEA No. 0089
2021-04-06House
H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0089
2021-04-06LSO
Assigned Number HEA No. 0089
2021-04-06House
H Concur:Passed 47-10-3-0-0
2021-04-06House
H Received for Concurrence
2021-04-02Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 25-3-2-0-0
2021-04-02Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2021-04-01Senate
S COW:Passed
2021-03-26Senate
S Placed on General File
2021-03-26Senate
S10 - Labor:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
2021-03-25Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S10 - Labor
2021-03-25Senate
S Received for Introduction
2021-03-24House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 48-11-1-0-0
2021-03-23House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2021-03-22House
H COW:Passed
2021-03-18House
H Placed on General File
2021-03-18House
H10 - Labor:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-2-0-0-0
2021-03-05House
H Introduced and Referred to H10 - Labor
2021-03-04House
H Received for Introduction
2021-03-03LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Official Summary Text
Bill Summary - 21LSO-0672
Bill No.:
HB0253
Effective:
7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM
LSO No.:
21LSO-0672
Enrolled Act No.:
HEA No. 0089
Chapter No.:
148
Prime Sponsor:
Gray
Catch Title:
Higher education-ban on funding for abortions.
Subject:
Prohibiting the use of general funds for abortions and abortion coverage at institutions of higher education.
Summary/Major Elements:
This act provides that, as a condition of receiving or expending appropriated funds, neither the University of Wyoming nor any of Wyoming's community colleges can expend any appropriated general funds for elective abortions for students or for group health insurance that provides coverage of elective abortions for students.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.
While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-0672
ORIGINAL House
ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0253
ENROLLED ACT NO. 89,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session
AN ACT relating to the University of Wyoming and community colleges; prohibiting the University of Wyoming and community colleges from expending funds on abortions or insurance coverage for abortions as specified; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 21
‑
16
‑
1701 is created to read:
ARTICLE 17
HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENDITURES ON ABORTIONS
21
‑
16
‑
1701.
Prohibition on expending funds for abortion.
(a)
As a condition of receiving or expending any monies or funds appropriated to the University of Wyoming, the University of Wyoming shall not expend any appropriated general funds for:
(i)
Elective abortions for students;
(ii)
Group health insurance that provides coverage of elective abortions for students.
(b)
As a condition of receiving any monies or funds appropriated to the community college commission, a community college shall not expend any appropriated general funds for:
(i)
Elective abortions for students;
(ii)
Group health insurance that provides coverage of elective abortions for students.
Section 2
.
This act is effective July 1, 2021
.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
Chief Clerk
1