New Sanborn law will align 45-year-old family planning statutes with current medical practice

AUGUSTA — A bill introduced by Sen. Linda Sanborn, D-Gorham, was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on Friday. When it takes effect, LD 494, “An Act To Update Family Planning Statutes,” will update Maine’s 45-year-old family planning statutes to bring them in line with current medical practices.

“Family planning services in Maine should be governed by laws that reflect current medical practice, just like any other kind of health care services,” said Sen. Sanborn. “I’m so grateful to Gov. Mills for signing this bill into law.”

Current Maine family planning statutes apply only to physicians, instead of the various types of health care practitioners who are licensed and provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care. Additionally, the statutes do not reference the wide array of services beyond birth control that are currently offered as part of family planning, such as sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment. LD 494 addresses these inconsistencies between the statutes and current medical practice.

LD 494 takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.