South Dakota House Cmte Approves Bill for Abortion Facility Inspections

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 30, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

South Dakota House Cmte Approves Bill for Abortion Facility Inspections Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 30, 2006

Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — The health and safety of women from dangerous abortions is significant enough to warrant state inspection of abortion facilities, a state House legislative panel said. The committee signed off on legislation to do that on Monday.

Rep. Gordon Howie, a Republican who sponsored the bill, told members of the committee that medical facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and other centers are already licensed, so it makes sense to apply those regulations to abortion businesses.

"I personally find the practice of abortion abhorrent," he said, according to an AP report, but asked the committee to adopt the bill as a good step to reduce abortions and help women.

The Health and Human Services Committee agreed and voted 11-2 to send the bill, HB 1198, to the full House for debate and a vote.

Under the measure, the state would issue a license to an abortion business after a successful state inspection. The fee for the license could run as high as $10,000, though the state health department can lower it.

No one testified against the bill in committee, including no one representing Planned Parenthood, which runs the only abortion business in the state, located in Sioux Falls.

Rep. Alice McCoy indicated she voted for the bill because she knows of women who have had bad abortion experiences, according to an AP report.

"We inspect every other place that does health services," McCoy said. "Women need the protection."

TAKE ACTION: Contact the South Dakota state legislature and tell your elected officials you support the legislation. Go to https://legis.state.sd.us.