Rep. Upchurch Testifies in Favor of Bipartisan Bill to Track Pregnancy Outcomes for Ohio's Incarcerated Population

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today offered sponsor testimony for his bipartisan piece of legislation, House Bill (HB) 542, before the House Government Oversight Committee. HB 542 requires state, county, and municipal prisons to report pregnancy outcomes to the DRC, in an effort to understand the severity of stillbirth occurrences in correctional facilities across the state. The DRC currently requires deaths in Ohio’s prisons to be reported, and this legislation will expand that requirement to include pregnancy outcomes.

“We believe there are many cases of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Ohio’s prisons because of inadequate health care. We need prisons to report this data so that stillbirths are not overlooked or ignored. It is our ethical responsibility to ensure that healthy babies are born in Ohio, regardless of the mother’s incarceration status,” said Rep. Upchurch.

HB 542 awaits a second hearing in committee. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: A picture of Rep. Upchurch providing sponsor testimony is attached to this press release. Courtesy: Ohio House Democrats.