According to a memo the university’s general counsel sent to all employees Friday, Idaho law prohibits university employees from promoting, counseling or referring someone for an abortion, and prohibits the institution from dispensing drugs classified as emergency contraception except in cases of rape.
The University of Idaho and other public schools across Idaho are subject to the law since they are state-funded institutions.
The guidance says UI employees cannot dispense birth control to students under the Idaho law.
Jodi Walker, spokesperson for the University of Idaho, said in an email that the university follows all laws, and the guidance is meant to help employees understand the legal significance and possible ramifications of the law.
“Employees engaging in their course of work in a manner that favors abortion could be deemed as promoting abortion.
Emily Frandsen, spokesperson for Idaho State University in Pocatello, said the university has not issued a similar memo but follows Idaho’s abortion laws, including the law prohibiting public funding from being used for counseling, promoting or referring individuals for abortion.
The law also prohibits publicly funded facilities from providing abortions or abortion training, and bars them from contracting with abortion providers. »