1. There is hereby established the “Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Public Awareness Program” which shall be administered by a state agency or agencies, as designated by appropriations to such or each agency.

2. The purpose of the alternatives to abortion public awareness program is to help pregnant women at risk for having abortions to be made aware of the alternatives to abortion agencies located and alternatives to abortion services available to them in their local communities. The alternatives to abortion public awareness program shall include the development and promotion of a website which provides a geographically indexed list of alternatives to abortion agencies as well as contractors for the alternatives to abortion services program established in section 188.325. As used in this section, “alternatives to abortion agencies” means agencies exempt from income taxation pursuant to the United States Internal Revenue Code that offer alternatives to abortion services as defined within section 188.325, including but not limited to maternity homes, pregnancy resource centers, and agencies commonly known and referred to as crisis pregnancy centers. The alternatives to abortion public awareness program may also include but need not be limited to the use of television, radio, outdoor advertising, newspapers, magazines, and other print media, and the internet to provide information on these alternatives to abortion agencies and services. The state agency or agencies administering the alternatives to abortion public awareness program are encouraged to give first preference to contracting with private agencies or entities, which are exempt from income taxation pursuant to the United States Internal Revenue Code, to conduct the alternatives to abortion public awareness program. Contractors for the alternatives to abortion public awareness program may also be contractors for the alternatives to abortion services program established in section 188.325.

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

3. The agency or agencies administering the program shall to the greatest extent possible supplement and match moneys appropriated for the alternatives to abortion public awareness program with federal and other public moneys and with private moneys. The agency or agencies administering the program shall prioritize such additional federal, other public, and private moneys so that they are used preferentially for the alternatives to abortion public awareness program and the alternatives to abortion services program.

4. The alternatives to abortion public awareness program and the moneys expended under this section shall not be used to perform or induce, assist in the performing or inducing of or refer for abortions. Moneys expended under this section shall not be granted to organizations or affiliates of organizations that perform or induce, assist in the performing or inducing of or refer for abortions.