Austin City Council Approves Pregnancy Center Sign Ordinance

The Austin City Council unanimously approved a controversial ordinance that requires limited service pregnancy centers, also known as crisis pregnancy centers, to post signs declaring what services they do not provide. The ordinance will take effect April 19.

The ordinance requires two signs, in English and Spanish, that read: "This center does not provide abortions or refer to abortion providers. This center does not provide or refer to providers of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved birth control drugs and medical devices." The signs must be printed in black and white, in a minimum 48-point font, and must be at least 8 1/2 by 11 inches.

The ordinance does not require that limited service pregnancy centers offer any additional services or change the services they do provide.

While police officers will not enforce the ordinance and no arrests will be made for violations, pregnancy centers that don't comply can face a fine of $250 for the first offense, $350 for the second, and $450 or more for a third offense.

Abortion rights opponents expressed concern that the signs may discourage women from coming in for counseling. The Diocese of Austin wrote in a letter to Austin City Council, "There is no mistaking that the Gabriel Project Life Center does not provide or refer for abortion or FDA-approved birth control durgs and medical services. We seek to be entirely forthcoming with the services that we provide. It is even stated on our intake form, which every single client is given to read and sign, that we are not a medical facility and do not provide or refer for abortions. The concept of government-forced speech runs contrary to our notions of fundamental liberties."

Austin becomes only the second city to pass such an ordinance. Baltimore, MD was the first city. The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed a lawsuit last week challenging the ordinance there, saying it discriminates against groups opposed to abortion.