Senate Health and Human Services committee approves abortion bill
Air Date:02/28/2011
By Jackelyn Severin
A measure changing the requirements to get an abortion has passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. House Bill 1217 requires a woman to wait 72 hours after consulting a physician before receiving an abortion. The bill also mandates the woman is counseled by a crisis pregnancy center. Representative Roger Hunt says this bill makes sure a woman is thoroughly informed before making the decision to terminate her pregnancy. He says the measure protects women and prevents coerced abortions from family members, boyfriends, and husbands.
Hunt says, “We find that there is a clear need for additional protection of the mother’s fundamental rights to her relationship with her child against pressure of third parties.”
Opponents of the measure say counselors at crisis pregnancy centers only receive 55 hours of training. The say this isn’t enough time to qualify a person to help women make these decisions.
House Bill 1217 passed by a vote of 6 to 1 and now goes to the Senate floor.
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