Global Courant 2023-04-18 21:44:21
Lawmakers in North Dakota introduced an abortion bill Monday that seeks to ban the procedure with few exceptions.
The state house passed SB 2150 by a vote of 76-14usually along party lines, making performing or aiding an abortion a class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
According to the language in the bill, the pregnant woman would not be charged.
The only exceptions are if the mother’s health or life is in danger and in cases of rape or incest, but only up to six weeks gestation, before many women know they are pregnant.
In addition, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services will be required to publish materials about services that can help a woman during pregnancy, color photographs documenting fetal development, materials about the “long-term risks” of an abortion, and the ability to to reverse an abortion.
The North Dakota Capitol tower rises in the background behind a stone sign, April 19, 2012, in Bismarck, ND
Dale Wetzel/AP, FILE
The bill then goes to the Senate. If passed, Governor Doug Burgum is expected to sign it into law.
It comes just a month after the North Dakota Supreme Court issued a trigger ban that would go into effect — making it a felony to perform an abortion, with exceptions only for rape, incest or if the mother’s life is endangered. is in danger – – as unconstitutional.
“We are going to send another notice to the North Dakota Supreme Court,” said House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, a Republican. “This is what this legislature wants. We want pro-life in North Dakota.”
While anti-abortion groups, including North Dakota Right to Life, praised the decisionDemocratic lawmakers criticized it.
“The six-week ‘exception’ is before most people know they are pregnant, especially young victims of sexual assault, and forcing an unwanted pregnancy to go through adds to the trauma,” wrote deputy Karla Rose Hanson, who voted against the bill. in a tweet.
She pointed out that in 2014, about two-thirds of voters in North Dakota rejected a ballot measure that would have amended the state constitution to declare an “inalienable right to life” for people at any stage of development, essentially banning abortion.
“Proponents of the bill said it ‘cleans up’ and ‘clarifies’ the existing abortion law, but in reality the trigger ban has been imposed, so this bill puts new restrictions in the law,” she added.
Katie Christensen, state director of external affairs for Planned Parenthood North Dakota Action Fund, also denounced the passing of the bill.
“It is heartbreaking and frustrating to see a near-total ban on abortion pass the North Dakota House after the Supreme Court upheld the right to life-saving and health-sustaining abortions,” she said in a statement. rack. “Abortion is essential health care, and North Dakotans deserve to make decisions about their bodies and future.”
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, at least 14 states have shut down nearly all abortion services.
Florida will be the 15th state once a new six-week abortion ban is enacted — but only if the state’s current 15-week ban is upheld as legal challenges play out in court.
