Kansas Senate Approves Antiabortion Legislation; Gov. Sebelius Expected To Veto Bill

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 08 Apr 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The Kansas Senate on Thursday voted 25-13 to pass a bill (House Substitute for SB 389) that includes a number of antiabortion-related provisions, the Wichita Eagle reports. The bill was sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), who is expected to veto the measure. According to the Eagle, the bill passed two votes short of the two-thirds majority that would be required to override a veto.

The bill, which adds additional abortion reporting requirements, would expand information physicians must provide to the state when they perform abortions, require that more information be made public, and that abortion clinic employees report suspected abuse of underage girls. During debate, the major point of contention was a provision that would allow siblings, parents, grandparents or the husband of a pregnant woman to go to court to stop her from having a post-21 week abortion if they can argue the procedure might violate state law (Lefler, Wichita Eagle, 4/4). The measure allows a woman who had an abortion after the 21st week of pregnancy and some members of her family to sue for monetary damages if a physician violates the law (Manning, Associated Press, 4/3). The measure also would allow a district or county attorney, as well as the attorney general, to prosecute violations (Wichita Eagle, 4/4).

According to the Associated Press, the measure also would require a physician to meet privately with a woman 30 minutes before the abortion is performed and that the woman provide a written reason for the abortion. The measure also would require a physician to offer a woman the option to see ultrasound images and hear fetal heartbeats if the facility has the equipment. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts would be required to revoke the medical licenses of physicians who break the law, and state social services would be required to publish an annual report of child sexual abuse cases received from abortion providers without names or other identifying information, the Associated Press reports. Under the bill, minors seeking abortions would be required to provide identification and proof of state residency. The person accompanying the minor also would be required to provide identification, sign a statement about his or her relationship to the minor and identify the father of the fetus, if possible.

Sen. Laura Kelly (D) said the "bill places multiple barriers to a legal procedure. If we were talking about any other medical procedure, there would be 40 no votes." She added, "It seems we are suggesting the woman can't fend for herself and make up her own mind." Sen. Phil Journey (R), who supports the bill, said he hopes Sebelius will sign the bill into law but added that "it's probable she will veto it." Nicole Corcoran, Sebelius' spokesperson, said the governor will have to review the bill after she receives it (Associated Press, 4/3).

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