Missouri House Approves Bill That Would Further Regulate Abortion Clinics

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 10 Mar 2005 - 22:00 PDT

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The Missouri House on Tuesday preliminarily approved a bill... (HB 100) that would increase regulations on abortion clinics in the state and make it a felony to accompany a minor across state lines to undergo an abortion without parental consent, the Kansas City Star reports (Lubbes, Kansas City Star, 3/9). Under the measure, abortion providers at clinics would have to obtain hospital privileges within 30 miles of their facilities or face charges punishable by up to one year in jail. In addition, clinics that perform more than five first-trimester abortions per month or any second- or third-trimester abortions would be classified as "ambulatory surgical centers," requiring them to be inspected by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, according to the AP/Kansas City Star (Carlson, AP/Kansas City Star, 3/8). State Rep. Jane Cunningham (R), the bill's sponsor, said the measure is intended to make clinics "safer" and to "crack down" on minors in the state who travel to Illinois -- where parental consent is not required -- to undergo the procedure, according to the Star. Abortion-rights groups said that the bill is "using safety as an excuse" to further restrict access to abortion and that the measure could cause some clinics to close, according to the Star. The measure will receive a second state House vote before going to the state Senate, where it has "bipartisan support," according to the Star. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) supports antiabortion legislation, the Star reports (Kansas City Star, 3/9).

Cloning Ban
Although antiabortion groups support Cunningham's measure, they said that their "main concern" during the current state legislative session is passing a ban on all forms of human cloning, the AP/Star reports. Patty Skain, executive director of Missouri Right to Life, said, "Right now, [cloning] is where we see the biggest violation of human rights and human dignity." Some opponents of a ban on all human cloning say that cloning for research purposes does not result in a "human life," according to the AP/Star. The cloning ban issue has divided those who traditionally oppose abortion rights, according to the AP/Star. Blunt said he does not support a ban on all cloning because he does not believe cloning for research purposes results in a human life (AP/Kansas City Star, 3/8).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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