Idaho House Panel, Kansas House Approve New Restrictions on Abortion
April 1, 2011 — The Idaho House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted 14-4 to approve a Senate-passed bill that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the AP/Idaho Press reports. Opponents to the proposed ban contend that the bill is unconstitutional and unnecessary, but state Sen. Chuck Winder (R) said he expects the legislation to survive a court challenge.
If the bill is enacted, Idaho would be the second state, after Nebraska, to ban abortions after 20 weeks. The bill now proceeds to the full House for further debate (AP/Idaho Press, 3/30).
Kansas House Passes Third Abortion Bill This Month
The Kansas House on Wednesday approved by voice vote a bill -- the House Substitute for SB 36 -- that would require abortion clinics to be licensed and comply with a series of medical standards and practices, the Wichita Eagle reports. Under the bill, abortions after 21 weeks of pregnancy would be required to take place at a hospital or surgical center.
In addition, the bill says that a female observer must be present during any abortion services or pelvic examinations provided by a male doctor at an abortion facility; doctors providing abortion services must obtain admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinics; hospitals or surgical centers must register as abortion clinics if they allow abortions after 21 weeks or provide more than five first-trimester abortions in a month; and reports to the state about any deaths linked to abortion complications must be filed within one business day and reports of any injuries must be filed within 10 days.
Pending a formal roll call, the new bill will then proceed to the Senate for further consideration. This is the third abortion-related bill that Kansas lawmakers have considered this month. Two other bills are awaiting Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) signature. Brownback has indicated he would sign any antiabortion legislation that reaches his desk, according to the Eagle (Lefler, Wichita Eagle, 3/31).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
