A measure dealing with payments to abortion providers has passed a legislative committee. House Bill 1130 prohibits abortion providers from accepting payment before the informed consent period. In South Dakota women seeking an abortion must wait 72 hours after an initial consultation with the abortion doctor and a pregnancy help center. Senator Jenna Haggar of Sioux Falls says pre-paying for an abortion gives women seeking an abortion a sense of obligation and could put undue pressure to go through with the procedure.
"House Bill 1130 seeks to free the mother from this financial pressure during the wait period by not allowing payment for an abortion until the day of the abortion. We know that for many women considering an abortion is one of the toughest decisions they will ever make. We should give them every opportunity to choose life," says Haggar.
Jen Aulwess is the Communications Director for Planned Parenthood. She says the organization has no issue with the measure because this practice is already in place in Planned Parenthood clinics.
House Bill 1130 passed unanimously and now moves to the House Floor for further debate.