Kansas House Approves Bill Teaching Abortion in Public High Schools

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 1, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Kansas House Approves Bill Teaching Abortion in Public High Schools Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 1, 2006

Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) — The Kansas state House has approved a measure that would require teaching public high school students about abortion. The bill requires teaching the details of various abortion procedures, including partial-birth abortions, and telling students that unborn children can feel pain during an abortion.

The House voted for the amendment Friday on a 77-48 vote. That changed a bill on state reporting of abortion statistics the Senate already passed and now that chamber must approved the House changes.

Rep. Jan Pauls sponsored the amendment, which also instructs schools teaching student sabout pregnancy to include information about fetal development. The materials must include pictures or drawings of the baby developing at four week stages form conception to birth.

"It’s important that when children are being taught sex ed, they be aware of what the fetus looks like," Pauls, a Democrat, said.

According to an AP report, Pauls indicated her amendment isn’t necessary pro-life, but would help inform students.

"If a girl might choose an abortion at some point, they would be informed," she said. "For me, it’s just a disclosure. Students need to know what fetuses look like and the methods of abortion."

The amendment allows schools to implement the requirements at their discretion and says parents can opt to have their children not receive such instruction.

As passed by the Senate, the bill originally required abortion facilities to gather more information about abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy to report to the state. The new information would include details about any physical or mental handicaps the unborn baby had.

Kathy Ostrowski, a Kansans for Life representative, told AP the bill will help Kansans know whether laws restricting late-term abortions are being followed.

Related web sites:
Kansas state legislature – https://www.kslegislature.org
Kansans for Life – https://www.kfl.org