Ill., Ohio Lawmakers Approve New Restrictions on Abortion; Texas Senate Passes 'Choose Life' License Plate Legislation

March 17, 2011 — The Illinois House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted to grant preliminary approval to a bill (HB 3156) that would require abortion clinics to be retrofitted to meet the standards of outpatient surgery centers, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The bill, introduced by state Rep. Darlene Senger (R), could place new financial burdens on clinics by requiring them to widen hallways, purchase new equipment and modify their parking lots.

Opponents of the bill adamantly questioned the committee’s jurisdiction of the bill because it is not within the scope of the committee's expertise (Di Benedetto, Chicago Sun Times, 3/16). Colleen Connell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, claimed that the legislation was referred to the agriculture committee because its lawmakers have a record of being "hostile to abortion rights" (Wilson/Long, Chicago Tribune, 3/15).

The House Agriculture Committee also considered two other abortion bills: HB 2093 would require abortion clinic employees, including clerical staff, to report instances of child abuse and HB 1919 would impose longer waiting periods before women can seek an abortion and require women to view an ultrasound at least one hour prior to the abortion. Lawmakers who introduced the antiabortion legislation denied that they asked the committee to review their bills, but Barbara Flynn Currie (D), chair of the House Rules Committee that assigns bills to committees, said legislators make requests as to where their bills go early in the legislative process (Chicago Sun-Times, 3/16).

Ohio House approves parental consent bill

The Ohio House on Tuesday voted 64-33 to pass a bill (HB 63) that would impose new requirements for judges hearing petitions from minors who cannot get parental consent for their abortions, AP/Columbus Dispatch reports. Under the legislation, a judge would be required to collect evidence about whether the minor understands the impacts of having an abortion and whether she was coached on how to answer such questions.

Rep. Lynn Slaby (R), the bill's cosponsor, said the legislation is intended to ensure that minors are "of sound mind" when they decide to have an abortion. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration (AP/Columbus Dispatch, 3/15).

Texas Senate Approves 'Choose Life' License Plates

The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill (SB 257) that would add "Choose Life" specialty license plates to the list of 200 specialty plates offered by the state, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. The money raised by the license plates would be used for adoption services, pregnancy testing, and counseling services.

Opponents of the bill, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, say the plates suggest that the state is against abortion rights and that the state should make available plates expressing more than one point of view.

Specialty plates cost between $30 and $40 and about 70% of the money goes to organizational programs or services. "Choose Life" proponents report that nearly $14 million has been raised by similar license plates offered in 24 other states across the country.

A final vote is expected on Wednesday before the bill is sent to the House for consideration. Both chambers passed similar measures in 2009 that were never signed into law (AP/Houston Chronicle, 3/15).