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Arkansas committee hears contested bill to codify clinic standards, extend abortion waiting period and add penalties
Summary
Sen. Stubblefield’s SB278 would codify Department of Health standards for abortion facilities, extend the waiting period from 48 to 72 hours and increase some reporting penalties; Planned Parenthood opposed the bill and committee members pressed sponsor to amend felony penalties and emergency exceptions.
Senator Trent Stubblefield introduced Senate Bill 278 to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, saying the measure would codify existing Department of Health rules and an Eighth Circuit opinion while adding new statutory requirements for abortion facilities. "Abortion patients will have access to a 24 hour telephone consultation with either a registered nurse or physician associated with the abortion facility," Stubblefield said, and the bill would require written emergency-transfer procedures, on-site emergency drugs and documented cardiopulmonary resuscitation competency for clinical staff.
The bill also seeks to extend the state's waiting period for abortion from 48 to 72 hours and to expand reporting requirements.…
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