HB 900 | Dignity for incarcerated women

Session: 2023–2024

ACLU-PA Position: Neutral**

HB 900 originally proposed to implement several measures to restore dignity to those who are pregnant and incarcerated, some of which are already in place in federal prisons, including:

• Changing the way pregnant people are treated while incarcerated, including restricting the use of restraints and restrictive housing throughout the entirety of the pregnancy, including before, during, and after labor;
• Providing free feminine hygiene and incontinence products to incarcerated individuals who require and request these items;
• Requiring trauma-informed training for all correctional staff who have contact with pregnant and post-partum individuals who are incarcerated; and
• Allowing 3 days of post-delivery bonding time with newborn child.

**Unfortunately, HB 900 (PN 2406) was amended with worrisome changes that erode protections against the use of solitary confinement for pregnant people. As a result, the ACLU-PA changed its position on HB 900 from support to neutral.

Governor Shapiro signed HB 900 into law on December 14, 2023 as Act 47 of 2023.