Ariz., Ohio, S.D. Consider Abortion-Related Legislation

March 4, 2011 — The Arizona House Committee of the Whole on Monday voted 41-18 to approve a bill (HB 2443) that would ban women from seeking abortions because of the fetus' race or sex, the White Mountain Independent reports.

The bill, which now moves to the state House floor, would require physicians performing abortions to sign affidavits stating that the reason for the procedure was not because of the fetus' race or sex. Lawmakers adopted an amendment to the bill that removes a requirement for women to sign the affidavits. The measure would allow the husband of the pregnant woman, or her parents if she is younger than 18, to sue a physician he believes knowingly performed an abortion based on the fetus' sex or race. If the woman is younger than 18 years old, the bill would allow the maternal grandparents to sue a physician if they believe an abortion was sought because of sex or race.

The committee delayed consideration of a separate bill (HB 2416) that would impose restrictions on facilities that provide medication abortions and bar physicians from using telemedicine to prescribe medication abortions remotely, among other provisions (Muggeridge, White Mountain Independent, 3/3).

Also this week, the Arizona House gave preliminary approval to a bill (HB 2384) that would forbid the use of any state or federal funds to be used to train medical professionals to perform abortions, the Sierra Vista Herald reports. According to state Rep. Matt Heinz (D), the University of Arizona's obstetrics and gynecology program is required to offer abortion training as part of its national accreditation, although students can opt out of the training. Heinz expressed concern that the program could lose accreditation if the bill becomes law (Fischer, Sierra Vista Herald, 3/3).

Ohio Bill Would Ban Abortion After Detection of Heartbeat

The Ohio House Health Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on a bill (HB 125) that would require physicians to perform an ultrasound on women seeking abortions and prohibit the procedure if a heartbeat can be heard, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The legislation provides exceptions for the health or life of a woman. During the hearing, two pregnant women received ultrasounds and the fetal heartbeats were played through speakers.

Ohio is the first state to consider legislation that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, and the bill would create the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., according to the Dispatch. The measure has 50 co-sponsors, which is enough support to pass the House.

Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, said the bill would "essentially outlaw abortions in Ohio," but added that she expects the law would be ruled unconstitutional because it creates an undue burden on a pregnant woman. The antiabortion-rights group Ohio Right to Life does not support the proposal because the "court has said there can be no bans on pre-viability abortions" and the law likely would not be upheld in court, Executive Director Michael Gonidakis said (Candisky, Columbus Dispatch, 3/3).

S.D. Senate Passes 72-Hour Waiting Period Bill; Gov. Likely To Sign It

The South Dakota Senate on Wednesday voted 21-13 to approve a bill (HB 1217) that would increase the waiting period before a woman could have an abortion, as well as require a woman to visit a crisis pregnancy center before having the procedure, the Rapid City Journal reports. The measure would extend the waiting period to have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours, which would make it the longest waiting period in the U.S. (Montgomery, Rapid City Journal, 3/2).

The bill was sent to Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R), who typically opposes abortion rights (AP/New York Times, 3/2). On Thursday, Daugaard said he is "inclined to sign it at this stage" (AP/Grand Forks Herald, 3/3).