3 abortion bills headed to Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's desk
The Arizona Legislature gave final approval to three abortion-related bills Thursday. The legislation, if it becomes law, would change how medication abortions are performed, the use of aborted fetuses for research and funding for Planned Parenthood.
Gov. Doug Ducey now has five days to sign them, veto them or do nothing and allow them to become law without his signature. Ducey typically does not comment on bills before they reach his desk, but he has in the past consistently supported anti-abortion efforts.
Senate Bill 1324
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge in October struck down a 2012 law that attempted to limit abortion-inducing medications. Lawmakers this session introduced a re-worded version of that law that supporters say addresses the court's concerns while accomplishing their goal.
SB 1324 would require abortion-inducing medications be administered according to the "Mifeprex final printing label protocol" that the federal Food and Drug Administration approved and was in effect as of Dec. 31. Abortion providers widely consider that protocol outdated and no longer follow it.
Using that protocol would forbid doctors from prescribing the medications to women who are more than seven weeks pregnant, unlike the current protocol, which allows the medication to be administered to women who are up to nine weeks pregnant. The Mifeprex protocol also requires the second dose of medication to be taken at a doctor's office instead of at home.
Arizona anti-abortion lawmakers try again to limit medication abortions
SB 1474
The bill would make it illegal to sell, donate or accept aborted fetuses. It would also restrict research on aborted fetuses. Abortion opponents have alleged clinics like Planned Parenthood are profiting from the sale or donation of aborted fetuses. It is against federal law to sell a fetus, but donations are permitted.
Planned Parenthood Arizona officials have said their clinics do not participate in fetal-tissue donation of any kind and do not do their own research on embryos or fetuses.
Arizona bill would restrict embryo and fetus research
SB 1485
The bill targets Planned Parenthood of Arizona, one of the state's largest abortion providers, by restricting state employees from directing part of their paycheck through the state's charitable-giving program to "a charitable organization that performs a non-federally qualified abortion or maintains or operates a facility where a non-federally qualified abortion is performed for the provision of family planning services."
Non-federally qualified abortions are ones that are not covered under federal Medicaid law. Federal law covers abortions only in the case of danger to the life of the mother, rape or incest.
The organization was cut off from the state's charitable-giving program late last year following a decision by the State Employee Charitable Campaign, chaired by Gov. Ducey. At the time, Ducey's office explained the decision by saying Planned Parenthood was too mired in controversy.
The state's charitable program is overseen by state workers. In 2014, 2,200 employees donated about $577,000 to various groups. Planned Parenthood received $7,410 from 48 state employees, the Governor's Office has said.