Actions Taken On Women's Health Legislation In Tenn., Okla., Mo.

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 10 Feb 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The following highlights recent news about women's health legislation.

• Tennessee: On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 5-4 to delay an antiabortion bill (SB 3512) that would require a 24-hour waiting period prior to the procedure and details informed consent procedures, the AP/Memphis Daily News reports. Some Republicans who voted in favor of delaying the bill said they wanted to see if the House version, which currently is stuck in committee, moves forward. Other lawmakers who voted in favor of the delay said they wanted to wait to see the outcome of an abortion resolution (SJR 127) that the Senate approved last week (Johnson, AP/Memphis Daily News, 2/7). The Senate approved the resolution 23-9. Approval of the resolution is a step toward amending the state constitution to clarify that it does not guarantee the right to abortion or require funding for abortion. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Diane Black (R), is in part a response to a 2000 state Supreme Court decision that struck down some restrictions on abortion, including a 48-hour waiting period, a requirement that women receive detailed information about the procedure and a requirement that all abortions after the first trimester be performed at a hospital. If the bill passes the House by a simple majority in this year's General Assembly, it then must pass each chamber by a two-thirds vote in the next General Assembly. If approved both times, the proposal would then be added to the state ballot in 2010 (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/4). Sen. Roy Herron (D), sponsor of the informed consent measure, said that delaying the bill increases its chances of not passing, adding that the bill is necessary to reduce the number of abortions in the state (AP/Memphis Daily News, 2/7).
  
  
• Oklahoma: The House Public Health Committee on Wednesday approved a bill (HB 2705) that would require health care providers offering prenatal classes to provide information about the risks of drug and alcohol use to the fetus and the pregnant woman, the AP/Oklahoman reports. In addition, the bill would require that pregnant women and their partners attending prenatal classes receive information about the risks of underage alcohol use (AP/Oklahoman, 2/6). A cost for the measure is not yet available, Rep. Kris Steele (R), who is sponsoring the measure, said. According to the Oklahoman, if the measure is approved, the state Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services would prepare the materials for health care providers to distribute among pregnant women. The materials would provide information and available resources, according to the Oklahoman. The measure now moves to the full House. The bill was suggested by students in grades eight through 12 who are members of the Shawnee Youth Coalition after Steele challenged them to suggest a proposal that would have a statewide effect (McNutt, Oklahoman, 2/7).
  
  
• Missouri: On Wednesday, the Senate Pension, Veterans' Affairs and General Laws Committee considered two bills aimed at loosening the state's restrictions on midwifery, the AP/Springfield News-Leader reports. One bill (SB 1021) would create a new state licensing board to monitor midwives who aren't nurses. Midwives would be required to provide pregnant women and their partners with a written disclosure outlining their training, liability insurance coverage, the risks and benefits of a home birth, and plans to transport the women to a hospital during labor if complications occur. To renew licenses, midwives would be required to take 10 hours of continuing education annually, three hours of peer review annually and maintain certification for resuscitating infants. Midwives would not be able to prescribe medicine or medically induce labor under the bill. The second bill (SB 870) would repeal a midwifery law signed last year by Gov. Matt Blunt (R) that allows midwives to deliver infants at home. The law was struck down by a state judge. Nurse-midwives in Missouri are legally recognized and regulated by the Board of Nursing under the Missouri Nursing Practice Act as a category of "Advanced Practice Nurse." Other midwives are illegal in the state. Both bills are sponsored by Sen. John Loudon (R) (Zagier, AP/Springfield News-Leader, 2/7).

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