For
Immediate Release
July 8, 2010
Baton
Rouge-
On Tuesday, Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law two pro-life bills
that the Louisiana Right to Life Federation brought forward and helped navigate
through the legislative process.
The Ultrasound before Abortion Act, SB 528, and the Abortion Insurance
Opt-Out, HB 1247, passed the legislature by significant margins.
The
"Ultrasound Before Abortion Act", authored by Senator Sharon Weston Broome
(D-Baton Rouge), would require ultrasounds to be performed before all abortions
in Louisiana. Among other things,
the bill also requires that the woman have the opportunity to see the
ultrasound.
The
Abortion Insurance Opt-Out, authored by Rep. Frank Hoffman (R-West Monroe),
opts Louisiana out of government-subsidized abortions made possible through the
passage of health care reform. Louisiana becomes the fourth state since March 23rd to pass opt-out
legislation.*
In
addition to the above bills, Governor Jindal signed into law HB 1370 by Rep.
Fred Mills (D-Parks) that gives more authority to the Department of Health and
Hospitals to close down abortion facilities not in compliance with Louisiana
law.
Benjamin
Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life Federation, commented,
"Louisiana furthered its exemplary commitment to defending unborn human life by
enacting these critical pieces of pro-life legislation. We thank Governor Jindal for signing
these bills into law and for his administration working with us every step of
the way to pass these measures."
"We
brought these bills forward to the legislature out of the desire to increase
the positive effects of ultrasound and to prevent the government funding of
abortion. We are confident
these new laws will save the lives of unborn children and open the door to
life-affirming choices for mothers," Clapper finished.
###
* Opt-out
legislation has been signed into law by three states, Arizona, Mississippi, and
Tennnnessee, and is pending
Governor action in Missouri.