Signed by Governor Sam Brownback

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes new restrictions on abortion clinics.

Highlights:

• Establishes that each abortion facility must be inspected at least twice a year, and that at least one of these inspections shall be made without providing prior notice to the facility (Sec. 5). 

• Establishes that if the secretary of the Department of Health and Environment determines that an abortion facility is in violation in any applicable law, rule, or regulation, then he/she may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of the facility or he/she may decide to fine the facility (Sec. 6). 

• Requires an abortion of an unborn child of a gestational age of 22 weeks or more to be performed in a hospital or surgical center that has been licensed to perform abortions (Sec. 7). 

• Establishes that the person who induces or performs an abortion must be a physician with clinical privileges at a hospital located within 30 miles of the facility in which he performs abortions (Sec. 8). 

• Requires another individual besides the physician to be present in a room in which a pelvic examination is taking place, and if the physician is a male, the other individual must be a female (Sec. 9). 

• Requires that the physician who prescribes, dispenses, or provides any abortion-inducing drug to administer the taking of the drug and be physically present in the same room with the patient during this process (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text