Lawmaker Introduces Bill That Would Ban Abortion In Indiana

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 07 Jan 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Indiana state Rep Troy Woodruff (R) on Wednesday said he has filed a bill (HB 1096) that would make abortion illegal in the state unless continuing the pregnancy to term would cause "substantial permanent impairment of the life or physical health of the pregnant woman," the Evansville Courier & Press reports. The bill would change state law to make performing an abortion a Class C felony, which can carry a two- to eight-year prison sentence. Woodruff said he introduced the bill in part because a state must pass a law and then appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court to see if Roe v. Wade -- the 1973 Supreme Court case that effectively barred state abortion bans -- would be overturned. The bill likely will be allocated to the state House Public Policy and Veterans Affairs Committee, according to the Courier & Press. Committee Chair Marlin Stutzman (R) said he supports the bill, which is "very close to [his] heart," but added he is uncertain if he will be able to schedule a hearing for it because of the short legislative session (Whitson, Evansville Courier & Press, 1/5).

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