Governor Jindal Signs Bills to Protect Women and Children From Louisiana's Abortion Industry

BATON ROUGE, LA - Today, Governor Jindal signed two bills into law that will protect women and children from an abortion industry often more interested in profit than the best interest of patient health and safety. 

On March 7th, Gov. Jindal announced at a press conference that H.B. 388 and H.B. 305 were a part of his 2014 Legislative Package. Both pieces of legislation were created in collaboration between Louisiana Right to Life and the Bioethics Defense Fund. 

H.B. 388 by Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe), known as the "Unsafe Abortion Protection Act", will ensure that women who experience complications from abortion, such as hemorrhage, uterine perforation, or infection from an incomplete abortion, are given the highest standard of care possible at a local hospital without any delays through the requirement that abortion physicians have admitting privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of their facility. HB 388 also clarifies that the "Women's Right to Know" law applies to surgical as well as chemical abortions, and requires doctors who perform more than five abortions a year to maintain proper licensing. H.B. 388 passed by overwhelming bi-partisan margins in both the Louisiana House and Senate. The Senate vote was 34-3 and the final House vote was 85-6. 

H.B. 305 by Rep. Hoffmann (R-West Monroe) ensures that representatives of any organization or business that performs elective abortion or their affiliates may not provide instruction or materials in public elementary and secondary schools or in charter schools that receive state funding. H.B. 305 passed the Louisiana House with a vote of 91-6, and in the Senate 31-5. 

In a statement Rep. Jackson said the following about H.B. 388: 

"The necessity of HB 388 was highlighted by the compelling testimony of a woman injured during an abortion, who now leads the Abortion Recovery Alliance. She was told to 'get up and get out' after being injured, and this type of treatment is prevalent in the abortion industry. Abortion is often called a 'minor surgery', but the truth is that women frequently suffer from both physical and psychological effects from abortion. We want to make sure women receive the absolute best care, and protecting women through common sense legislation is something we all should stand behind." 

Dorinda Bordlee, Senior Council of the Bioethics Defense Fund, and principle architect of both bills, said the following about HB 388: