The West Virginia Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill that, with few exceptions, would significantly curtail access to abortion in a state where it is currently legal up to 20 weeks post-fertilization.
The bill passed the state Senate in a 22-7 vote and the House gave it final approval in a 77-17 vote. Several Republicans expressed hope it’ll make it impossible for the state’s only abortion clinic to continue to offer the procedure.
House Bill 302, which now goes to Republican Gov. Jim Justice’s desk for signature, prohibits nearly all abortions except to save a pregnant woman’s life or in certain cases that involve rape or incest as long as the incident is reported to law enforcement.
Rape and incest victims would be able to obtain abortions at up to eight weeks of pregnancy but would have to report the assault within 48 hours of getting an abortion and present a copy of a police report/ notarized letter to a physician before the procedure can be performed.
When the victim is a minor, the allowed abortion window is 14 weeks, and they also must report to either law enforcement or a physician. The bill also allows abortion in cases of medical emergencies.
According to the adopted draft of the bill, any physician or other licensed medical practitioner who violates the law and intentionally or recklessly performs or induces an abortion could be subject to discipline and lose their medical license.
No penalties are envisaged for the women who receive abortions.
Denouncing the measure shortly after the bill was adopted, the Atlantic Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia said in a tweet that it’s impossible to overstate what a dark day this is for liberty and for West Virginia.
According to Alisa Clements, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, nothing can be more extreme than a law that strips people of the freedom to govern their own bodies.
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