On Monday the Senate Public Health Committee passed S.B. 388.
This good bill by Sen. Charles Beckham (R – McNeil), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro), Rep. Joe Cloud (R – Russellville), and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) requires any facility that performs abortions to be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health as an abortion facility.
The bill passed in committee with only one audible “No” vote against it.
S.B. 388 also prohibits abortions in hospitals except in cases of medical emergency.
Under current law, facilities are not required to be licensed or inspected as abortion facilities unless they perform more than ten abortions in a month. This means that a clinic potentially could perform more than 100 abortions per year without being licensed or inspected as an abortion facility.
S.B. 388 addresses this problem in state law.
This bill will make it easier for the Arkansas Department of Health to enforce our existing pro-life laws that restrict abortion at abortion facilities.
S.B. 388 will ensure that every clinic that performs abortions is licensed and inspected, and that Arkansas’ laws against abortion are properly followed.
The bill now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate.
