NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Legislation that would place licensing restrictions on all seven of Tennessee’s abortion clinics was overwhelmingly approved by state lawmakers Tuesday and sent to the governor.
Under the measure, facilities or physician offices would have to be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers if they perform more than 50 abortions in a year. All of the state’s clinics fall into that category.
Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, called the measure “a common sense requirement that abortion facilities be licensed and inspected the same as any other ambulatory surgical center,” said after the House’s vote of 79-17. That came a week after the Senate passed it 28-4.
Also Tuesday, the House voted 79-18 for a proposal that would require a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. The Senate passed the measure 27-5.
An amendment was added to the House version, so it heads back to the Senate for concurrence before going to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.
At least 35 states have passed measures similar to the proposals Tennessee lawmakers approved Tuesday.
The Tennessee bills aim to restore abortion laws that were struck down by a state Supreme Court decision in 2000. In that ruling, the justices threw out the waiting period, along with requirements that clinics provide detailed information about the procedure and that all but first-term abortions be performed in hospitals.
The latest abortion proposals came after voters approved a constitutional amendment in November giving state lawmakers more power to regulate abortions.
Supporters of the Tennessee proposals say they support the welfare of women seeking abortions and are not intended to prevent them from getting an abortion.
“This bill does not restrict an abortion,” said Republican Rep. Matthew Hill of Jonesborough, who sponsored the waiting-period bill. “We are making all … facts and information available to the women in order to make a careful and fully informed decision.”
Opponents say the proposals, particularly the one requiring a 48-hour waiting period, place an undue burden on women who may have to pay travel expenses to get to one of the state’s abortion clinics. There are three in East Tennessee, and two each in Middle and West Tennessee.
Under the proposal, women would have to be “in person” when a doctor talks to them about the risks of an abortion, or pregnancy, and sign a consent form.
Rep. John Ray Clemmons proposed an amendment that would allow the consent process be done by phone, but the measure failed.
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For not being scientists, these dip shits sure do love to practice a lot of medicine. Maybe it’s high time we passed a federal law requiring all legislators hold medical degrees since they love to practice medicine so much.
Yes sir, if you want privacy, individual rights, and freedom from government interference, the GOP is there for you!!
“Rep. John Ray Clemmons proposed an amendment that would allow the consent process be done by phone, but the measure failed.”
The Phone Lobby didn’t pony up enough cash.
Love it, they require ASC for a clinic… my local hospital here in East TN for 16 of 24 hours per day does not have a single Doctor physically present but on call, and he lives 25 minutes away. The emergency room is staffed with an LPN and a single PA. The staff on wards is one Nurse Aide per 25 patients. My EX worked at the old hospital and when the new one was built and taken over by a Church Affiliated HC System most existing staff was fired. They claim they don’t have the patient load etc needed, one then must ask how the hell any state agency allowed a 15 year old hospital that fit the communities needs be replaced with a new building at least 5 times as large. Secondly how does a building that large work with not even 1/2 of the smaller buildings staff. I’ve been in the new hospital and as I walked to the room to visit a friend saw that his room was the only occupied. His room was as far away from the Nurse Station as one could get and still be in the Hospital. Yea this bill is for w omens safety etc… BILL PHUCKY. Glad I use the VA System.