Arizona Senate Approves Two Bills Related To Abortion Rights

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 26 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Arizona Senate on Tuesday approved two abortion-related bills, including one that would increase requirements for obtaining abortions in the state and one that would increase penalties for performing a certain abortion procedure later in pregnancy, the Arizona Republic reports. The first bill (H.B. 2564), which passed 16-12, would impose a 24-hour waiting period before abortion procedures, require that abortion providers inform patients about risks and alternatives, and increase parental consent requirements for minors. Although the state has had a written parental consent requirement since 2003, the new measure would require that the consent form be notarized (Newton, Arizona Republic, 6/24). According to the AP/Houston Chronicle, the bill also would "allow pharmacists and other health care providers to refuse to hand out emergency contraception on moral or religious grounds" (Davenport, AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/23). The second bill (H.B. 2400) would impose a fine or two-year prison sentence for violating the state's law banning intact dilation and extraction procedures, which currently is punishable by one year in prison (Arizona Republic, 6/24).

Paul Senseman, a spokesperson for Gov. Jan Brewer (R), said that the governor has not decided whether she will sign the bills. Senseman previously has said that Brewer "has a very consistent pro-life record. Republican leaders in the state Legislature have attempted for years to increase abortion restrictions, but former Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) vetoed every measure on the subject" (Arizona Republic, 6/24).

Opponents of H.B. 2564 said that it would make it difficult for women to access abortion services, especially for women outside of urban areas who would have to make multiple trips to providers under the waiting period requirement. According to Planned Parenthood, the bill would reduce the number of communities in the state where abortion is available from 10 to three. Supporters of the bill contend that it would better inform women about risks and alternatives to abortion (AP/Houston Chronicle, 6/23).

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