--- title: Mass. Governor Signs Abortion Clinic Access Bill into Law date: 2014-07-30T22:49:15-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/mass-governor-signs-abortion-clinic-access-bill-into-law" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Mass. Governor Signs Abortion Clinic Access Bill into Law By Rachel Walden • July 30, 2014 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. ![Deval patrick clinic access](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACAAAAAUCAIAAABj86gYAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAADNElEQVQ4jU2Vwc4cNwyDScqTtIde+v4v0UsvfaQCvQTZ/XdtkT1o/iSAYAwMWxQ/yx7+8/dfIERKrIlSiSJIAHBiu7v36X36vc9r93uf9z779DluGwARcbazpFUUSXElABAkQcIESRwAIAAgSRJnFvwY5wP5XAMgRICZSgACwRr9kJ87CDBhSDKj3Hbb3X3ap7vbfU/Fth0EIOJkUjkhYkBY+zQAERIttlhGkbwRJYnt0z7npnR2n93n9Gl3315IQBRgREAACwrW+30AkJBYMwoiNIAw+dPt072P9+n3ng93u4cdIBJCCyx3hBqprI/XBsHbBIp3dhIcQHE7g2W39+l9fI5Ppx17aFNCJIgMIdCESGI9Pl4EBog4AiHAObPEsR23zx3ZP7NjeoRkiVFQvNGIJZJcj+frRgSIEUJC8GTHZLftDPHTOZ022tNFFCnSpcgooYJixIzA9+eL+FnyrZEQRpy5BR5Kaacbx7HpIGNb0/hyKRNiihZFrsfjic/sxGQ3YSawb0I955xjTO2eGihSJVXJVSlljQYjSRSxvj+f040ajVgwY9iI4ak/vwrYdJhhIy3VWnKVl9w1JlyscfB8Pn4VUMJ4AnZ8Oxg+p8cBDQaiStKqulb1Kq/KVWNilTxn8Pp43C9JoE9Eyiei24G7fTqn0Y1jODJIlapW1VnVV+VacaUrJS/dDvbrAUAAkeKtkYQJ4zkCt/u4O328T7bRZoegRqCv5a70ile6vMpWSRJX7+8EQxRgguTcu/sejB5MNOK4bffJ7hzDkKSq6l72iq9kxSuppEoqcaUfc1NAURQ0fS2QBBjTP97sowZOcrq9jzsIVGsEruQCLuICVlKrqsVFPwiSpEqY91xLpfEC2CQ5P4Zyqw7OO9jt/T42oK72FXwhv5BfyQv8AqygKlrKk6BYhSpcpaxa424EYkgE6OA41S1t4MN5Hr92m1LnK/mb9LtqV32tbulCV1KL+SAllHhJLKqUqkwPjAN0HFVYDVWkhl7Bt/Z/uxHDKNWfVX9cp8/K6UgmF1iL2ISIEBIsWkwR8zICJDPlqylBCtXkBr8Z6MAG2af/bfO42tWRQwdM/gcO4WXRlNS/pAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==)Gov. Patrick joined Attorney Gen. Martha Coakley, Marty Walz and Megan Amundson at the State House earlier this month to provide an update on efforts to ensure safe access to reproductive health clinics. [Photo: Eric Haynes / Governor’s Office](https://www.flickr.com/photos/massgovernor/14586930683) ([cc](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)) Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick today [signed into a law](http://www.boston.com/health/2014/07/30/gov-patrick-signs-mass-buffer-zone-bill-into-law/ZoLyawzsQMtc9J53IlisRL/story.html "Gov. Patrick Signs Mass. Abortion Buffer Zone Bill") a bill to protect access to health clinics where abortions are performed. "I am incredibly proud to sign legislation that continues Massachusetts leadership in ensuring that women seeking to access reproductive health facilities can do so safely and without harassment, and that the employees of those facilities can arrive at work each day without fear of harm," Patrick said in a [statement](http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2014/0730-governor-signs-act-to-protect-reproductive-health-care.html "Governor Patrick Signs "An Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care""). The law will be implemented immediately. It passed quickly through the legislative process following last month's unanimous Supreme Court decision -- in the case of [McCullen v. Coakley](http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/06/court-strikes-down-abortion-clinic-buffer-zone-in-plain-english/ "SCOTUSblog: Court strikes down abortion clinic “buffer zone”: In Plain English") -- that ruled the state's buffer zone banning protesters within 35 feet of clinics was unconstitutional. Justices said the law went too far in restricting free speech. [In response](http://www.pplmvotes.org/newsroom/press-releases/265-legislationfiledtoenhancesafeaccesstoreproductivehealthcenters.html "Legislation Filed to Enhance Safe Access to Reproductive Health Centers"), state Sen. Harriette Chandler introduced a bill ([S.2283](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/Senate/S2283 "Massachusetts Legislature: Bill S.2283")), titled an Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities. Below, watch Chandler discuss the bill with Melissa Harris-Perry. Under the new law, protesters may not block access to a clinic entrance or driveway. Police may order protesters who "substantially impede" access to a marked area 25 feet away from the entrance or driveway for up to eight hours. Failure to comply with the order may result in misdemeanor criminal charges, punishable by a fine of up to $500 and imprisonment of up to three months for the first offense. The bill also adopts a state version of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits the use of force, physical act or threat of force to injure or intimidate someone attempting to enter or leave a reproductive health care facility. To follow news about the new law, see the [\#SafeAccess](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23safeaccess&src=typd "#SafeAccess on Twitter") tag on Twitter. **Plus:** The New York Times today looks at the [shortcomings of NYC's abortion protest law](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/nyregion/new-yorks-abortion-protest-law-is-praised-by-justices-but-few-others.html?_r=0 "New York’s Abortion Protest Law Is Praised by Justices, but Few Others"). --- #### 0 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Abortion & Reproductive Rights](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/abortion-reproductive-rights) - [Legal](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/legal) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)