BALTIMORE – Crisis pregnancy centers in Baltimore must display signs stating they do not provide abortions or birth control referrals under a measure approved by the City Council on Monday night and thought to be the first of its kind.

Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a Democrat who was lead sponsor of the initiative, called the measure a victory for women’s well-being. She cited a study by an advocacy group indicating that women have been misled at pregnancy centers, which provide counseling, clothing and food for expectant mothers – but not abortions.

“It’s a step toward making sure that women have the information they need to make the right decision for their health and their future,” Rawlings-Blake said.

But abortion opponents say that the bill unfairly targets centers, which they say provide accurate information and needed assistance to poor women.

“The thing that’s most disappointing about it is not the particular signs that are put up or the particular bill itself but the message that it sends,” said Jeffrey Meister, the Maryland Right to Life legislative director. “This is the first time in the United States that any elected body has chosen to vote to condemn pregnancy centers.”

Similar measures have failed in the legislature in several states, including Oregon and Texas, Meister said.

The Baltimore bill, which passed 12-3, awaits a decision by Mayor Sheila Dixon, who could either sign or veto the measure, or allow it to become law without her signature.

Under the initiative, which would affect four centers, counseling centers would be required to post signs in English and Spanish explaining they do not “provide or make referral for abortion or birth control services.” If inspectors note that the signs are not visible, the center will be given 10 days to post a notice before incurring a $150 fine.

“At the very least now, these centers will have to put a sign up that lets women know that information about birth control and abortion won’t be found within those doors,” said Keiren Havens, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood of Maryland, which has been an advocate of the bill.

The head of two of the pregnancy centers that would be affected said that she was disturbed by the implications.

“The passage of this piece of legislation may serve as serious encouragement to those who would like to see our organizations saddled with more laws and restrictions,” said Carol A. Clews, executive director of the Center for Pregnancy Concerns, a nonprofit anti-abortion organization that receives donations from religious groups and has operated in the city for 30 years.