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Should surrogacy for pay be illegal in NYS?

Marisa Peñaloza
/
NPR
Bob and Susan de Gruchy had been through several failed rounds of in vitro fertilization before meeting the surrogate who would ultimately deliver their twins, Owen and Elle.

There is a new push to repeal a New York state law making it illegal to compensate a woman for carrying a child for another person.

New York is now one of a handful of states that ban surrogacy agreements, meaning prospective parents cannot hire or compensate a surrogate for carrying their child.

Legislation to permit and regulate surrogacy agreements has failed to get a final vote in Albany for years, but supporters are optimistic about its chances now that Democrats control both legislative chambers. Advocates gathered at the state Capitol Wednesday to highlight the effort.

The bills' Senate sponsor, Manhattan Democrat Brad Hoylman, now has two daughters who were born to surrogates. Hoylman said New York's law forced him and his husband to travel out of state to find a surrogate.

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