Minn. House Approves Fees, Inspections for Abortion Clinics
April 24, 2013 —The Minnesota House on Monday voted 71-62 to pass an amendment that would require abortion clinics to pay annual licensing fees and undergo state inspections, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The amendment -- sponsored by state Rep. John Ward (D) -- was added to a larger health and human services budget bill with the support of House Republicans and a few Democrats who oppose abortion rights.
Under the provision, clinics that perform more than 10 abortions monthly would have to pay a $3,700 annual fee. In addition, the state Department of Health would inspect the clinics twice a year.
Bill's Prospects
The measure is expected to face difficulty in the Senate, where there are fewer antiabortion-rights Democrats, according to the AP/Star Tribune.
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) vetoed similar legislation last year (AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 4/22).
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Repro Health Watch — an exciting new edition of the Women’s Health Policy Report — compiles and distributes media coverage of proposed and enacted state laws and ballot initiatives affecting women's access to comprehensive reproductive health care, as well as litigation in response to those provisions.
