Jerry Cox – Page 380 – Family Council

Senate Committee Passes Measure Restricting Abortion Facilities

Apr 6, 2021Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature

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.

Senate Judiciary Committee Passes “Hate Crimes Bill”

Apr 6, 2021Jerry CoxHate CrimesArkansas Legislature, Hate Crimes

On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S.B. 622, a bill commonly being referred to as a hate crimes bill.

This bad bill is vague and subjective. S.B. 622 is so ambiguous that it’s impossible to know just how far-reaching this legislation may be.

S.B. 622 fails to define important terms like ‘recognizable and identifiable.’

Its protections for religious liberty are not adequate.

It does not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent cities and counties from enacting their own, more stringent hate crimes ordinances.

It does not do enough to protect free speech or prevent thought-policing.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas Senate for consideration.

Arkansas Senate Passes Bill That Will Help Protect Victims of Botched Abortions

Apr 6, 2021Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

*Sen. Gilmore presents S.B. 527 to the Arkansas Senate.*

On Monday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 527 by a vote of 28 to five.

This good bill by Sen. Ben Gilmore (R – Crossett) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) requires abortion facilities to have transfer agreements with hospitals, and it fixes a flawed definition in a pro-life law passed in 2019.

S.B. 527 is similar to a Kentucky law that survived a legal challenge.

This is a good bill that will help protect women who are victims of botched abortions. Abortion carries a number of serious risks — including risk of laceration, hemorrhaging, and death.

Legislation like S.B. 527 helps protect women in the event of complications from a dangerous abortion procedure.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.

Below is a breakdown of the vote on S.B. 527.