Missouri Senate Approves Bill To Criminalize Helping Minors Avoid Abortion Parental Consent, Further Regulate Abortion Clinics

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 23 Apr 2005 - 10:00 PDT

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The Missouri Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to a bill... (SB 2) that would increase regulation of state abortion clinics and allow felony charges to be filed against people who help minors evade the state's abortion parental consent laws, the Kansas City Star reports (Wagar, Kansas City Star, 4/21). Under the measure, which is sponsored by state Sen. John Loudon (R), abortion providers at clinics would have to obtain hospital privileges within 30 miles of their facilities and violators could face charges punishable by up to 15 years in prison. 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 (Carlson, AP/Jefferson City News Tribune, 4/20). The measure also would prohibit anyone -- even a boyfriend -- from helping a girl under age 18 to obtain an abortion without parental consent (Kansas City Star, 4/21).

More Bill Details
The legislation also would prohibit public funding of health or social service programs that directly or indirectly support abortion and bar abortion providers from giving sex education materials to minors (AP/Jefferson City News Tribune, 4/20). Under the measure, a fund would be created to promote alternatives to abortion and would provide up to $2 million annually in tax credits for contributions to "pregnancy resource centers" that encourage women to avoid abortion (Kansas City Star, 4/21). The bill also would create a $25 specialty license plate reading "Respect Life" and featuring an image of a single red rose. The money from the plates would go toward a new state Respect Life Commission that would promote alternatives to abortion. The Senate defeated a proposed amendment to the bill that would have added $5 million in family planning funding for a new program to educate women about preventing pregnancy in order to reduce the number of abortions in the state. The bill must pass a final Senate vote before advancing to the full state House (AP/Jefferson City News Tribune, 4/20).

Similar House Bill
The Missouri House in March approved similar legislation (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. Under the measure, sponsored by state Rep. Jane Cunningham (R), 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 DHSS. The measure also would authorize lawsuits against individuals who help minors cross state lines to seek abortions without parental consent (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/14). Loudon said lawmakers have a "chance" to pass antiabortion measures this session because Gov. Matt Blunt (R) strongly opposes abortion rights. "For a number of years, these bills have been dying from a threat of a gubernatorial veto, and now we have a governor that will sign them," Loudon said (AP/Jefferson City News Tribune, 4/20).

"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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