Hobby Lobby

Democrats in the House and Senate are introducing legislation they say stems from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that employers opt out of contraceptive coverage due to religious beliefs. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

(Sue Ogrocki | The Associated Press)

LANSING - Employers would have to provide insurance information on contraceptive coverage to prospective and current employees under bills slated for introduction in the House and Senate today.

Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, and Rep. Gretchen Driskell, D-Saline, will be introducing legislation in the Senate and House, respectively.

“Whether or not a company’s reproductive health coverage is comprehensive can be an important factor for a family to consider when making decisions about a job prospect,” Driskell said.

The legislation would require an employer to inform potential employees of its contraceptive coverage policy not just in a job offer but in any job postings or advertisements. It would also require that an employer notify employees of changes to contraception coverage 90 days before they take place.

Whitmer said she was disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case, when it ruled that closely held private companies could decline to provide contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act based on religious beliefs.

“Over my entire legislative career I have worked to ensure that women have a voice in all matters, but when it comes to reproductive health care I think we’ve seen attack after attack,” Whitmer said.

The legislation is being introduced by Democratic members at a time when both chambers are controlled by Republicans. But Whitmer said it wasn’t intended to be partisan or divisive.

“I would like to think that we can all agree that employees should be able to know what is going to be covered in terms of their health care,” Whitmer said.

Emily Lawler is a Capital/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.