Missouri Governor Calls for Special Legislative Session To Consider Abortion-Related Measure

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 20 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Missouri Governor Matt Blunt (R) on Friday called for a special legislative session to consider 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 after state lawmakers failed to act on the bill before the state Legislature adjourned on Friday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Ganey, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/15). 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. The measure also would prohibit anyone -- including a boyfriend -- from helping a girl under age 18 obtain an abortion without parental consent (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 5/11). Blunt said he likely will call for the special session in September, when lawmakers already are scheduled to return to consider possible vetoes (Franck et al., St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/14). State legislative leaders and Missouri Right to Life "welcomed" the call for a special session, the AP/Kansas City Star reports (Lieb, AP/Kansas City Star, 5/14).

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