House Bill 1212, which would have allowed for the prosecution of people who seek abortion care, failed Thursday in the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Rapid City Republican Tony Randolph told the committee the state’s near-total abortion ban simply doesn’t go far enough.
“This bill would protect every pre-born child from abortion in South Dakota by giving them constitutional protections from homicide and assault they deserve," Randolph said. "Equal protection under the law.”
It’s a bridge too far even for some of the state’s most ardent pro-lifers. Lobbyist Dale Bartscher represents South Dakota Right to Life and pled with the committee to not take this road.
"To this end, we have continually approached this mission with compassion," Bartscher said. "Just as we have opposed the injustice of abortion itself, we have also consistently opposed policies that would criminally punish women. For over 50 years, we in the broader pro-life community have been clear and consistent in our moral convictions and our strategic approach as we support her, love them.”
Others still find these proposals to be grossly out of step with what South Dakota parents need.
Sioux Falls Democrat Erin Healy, the House minority leader, does not believe this bill is pro-family. Instead, she said proposals in this vein miss the point in a state that already has some of the strictest abortion laws in the nation.
“These proposals do nothing to expand health care, affordable child care, paid leave, or economic supports of our parents and children who need to thrive," Healy said. "Instead, this legislation advances extreme definitions of life, beginning at fertilization, and proposals like that put (In-Vitro Fertilization) and surrogacy at risk.”
Healy adds this type of policy could run the risk of potentially criminalizing a miscarriage as well. The bill was rejected on a vote of 9-4.