Actions Taken On Abortion-Related Legislation In Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 14 Mar 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent state news about abortion-related legislation.

• Kansas: A committee on Monday approved a bill (HB 2736) that includes a number of abortion-related provisions, the Wichita Eagle reports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lance Kinzer (R), would require women seeking abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy to be given information on no-cost counseling and no-cost perinatal services. It also would require that women be given the option to see an ultrasound image and to ask the physician about the procedure at least 30 minutes before the abortion is performed. In addition, the measure would require the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts to revoke the medical licenses of physicians who break the law and would allow a district or county attorney, as well as the attorney general, to prosecute violations. The bill would allow a group of 10 or more Kansans to sue the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and force it to provide information required by law on abortions performed after the 21st week of pregnancy. Lawmakers dropped a provision in the measure that would have required physicians who perform abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy to provide the state with information about the women undergoing the procedure. Julie Burkhart, CEO of the abortion-rights group ProKanDo, said, "The bill continues to restrict access for women who seek reproductive health care services." The antiabortion group Kansans for Life declined to comment on the legislation (Koranda, Wichita Eagle, 3/12).
  
  
• Michigan: The Senate voted 25-12 on Tuesday to pass a bill (S 1059) that would make it more difficult for minors to obtain an abortion without written parental consent, the AP/WZZM13 reports. Four Democrats and 21 Republicans voted in favor of the bill. The legislation would establish guidelines for judges to consider when deciding whether to grant a court waiver for an abortion without a parent's consent (AP/WZZM13, 3/11). In determining whether a minor is sufficiently mature, the legislation outlines an array of factors the court can consider, including school attendance, academic performance and career goals, whether the minor is aware of the psychological and emotional consequence of abortion, whether the minor has consulted someone about alternatives to abortion, and the circumstance of the minor's pregnancy, including any actions taken to maintain her personal health and prevent pregnancy (S 1059 text, 3/12). The bill also would prohibit a judge from granting a waiver if the minor had been previously denied one by another judge. Supporters of the measure say waiver petitions are repeatedly filed in the courts until a favorable verdict is given. Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) vetoed a similar measure in 2004 (AP/WZZM13, 3/11).
  
  
• Oklahoma: The House on Tuesday voted 88-11 to pass a bill (HB 3144) that would require physicians to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, the AP/Oklahoman reports. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Billy (R), is an expansion of 2006 legislation that requires abortion providers to tell women seeking the procedure that they have a right to an ultrasound at no cost at an off-site location. The new measure requires that the ultrasound be available at the facility where the abortion would be performed (AP/Oklahoman, 3/11). The measure would require the provider to perform the ultrasound and provide a medical description of the images at least one hour prior to the abortion. Women would not be required to view the images. Under the bill, abortion providers who are found to violate the measure would be fined $10,000 for the first violation, $50,000 for the second violation and $100,000 for the third violation. Women who obtain abortions would not be fined under the bill (HB 3144 text, 3/12). The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration (AP/Oklahoman, 3/11).

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