Life – Page 65 – Family Council

Arkansas Senate Passes Bill to Repeal Abortion Facility Licensing Requirements

Feb 24, 2023Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Thursday the Arkansas Senate passed a bill that repeals licensing requirements for abortion facilities in Arkansas law. The measure now goes to Gov. Sanders’ office.

S.B. 138 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) and Rep. Rebecca Burkes (R – Lowell) eliminates a provision in Arkansas law that says any facility that performs abortions must be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.

The Arkansas Department of Health has said Arkansas should repeal the licensing requirement, because abortion is now prohibited except to save the life of the mother.

Arkansas’ abortion facility licensing requirement is tied to other provisions related to abortion in state code. Repealing the licensing requirement could have unintended consequences for those good laws if abortion were once again made legal by a state or federal court decision or law.

Pro-lifers have asked lawmakers to amend S.B. 138 or pass follow-up legislation that would help address unintended consequences that could arise from the bill.

You Can Read S.B. 138 Here.

Survey Shows Arkansans Some of the Most Pro-Life Americans in the Country

Feb 23, 2023Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

A new survey indicates that Arkansans are some of the most pro-life Americans in the country.

On Thursday the Public Religion Research Institute released a survey indicating that 57% of Arkansans believe abortion should be prohibited in all or most cases.

The survey found that 14% of Arkansans believe abortion should be completely illegal without exception.

The results reveal that 43% of Arkansans favor restrictions that limit abortion to certain circumstances, while 43% believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

The survey indicates that nationwide Arkansans are among those most opposed to abortion.

The survey was funded in part by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. According to the foundation’s website, the organization supports abortion.

Public opinion polling has found time and again that Arkansans are pro-life.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of pro-life advocates and pro-life lawmakers, abortion is currently prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother. That’s something that Arkansans can celebrate.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Senate Committee Fails To Pass Bill Requiring Companies to Provide Maternity Leave If They Pay For Abortion

Feb 22, 2023Jerry CoxAbortionAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Wednesday the Senate Public Health Committee at the Arkansas Legislature failed to pass a measure ensuring employers that pay for employees to have abortions would also offer paid maternity leave to their employees.

H.B. 1006 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Knoxville) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) would require an employer that offers coverage for abortion expenses to also offer 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

The bill passed with 80 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives last week, but it failed on a voice vote in the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday morning.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer, corporations like Walmart have announced plans to pay for employees to have abortions.

Some cover travel expenses — such as if a woman from Arkansas travels across state lines to have an abortion.

While many companies have made it clear that they support abortion and oppose the overturn of Roe v. Wade, it is possible that some are comparing the cost of abortion coverage against the cost of paid maternity leave.

In Arkansas, 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for a full time employee earning minimum wage would cost a company approximately $5,280.

An abortion procedure could cost as little as $500 – $900.

Even with coverage for travel expenses, it may be cheaper for employers to pay for abortions than for maternity leave.

The Arkansas Legislature will remain in session for the next several weeks.

That means lawmakers may have other opportunities to pass H.B. 1006 before they adjourn.

You Can Read H.B. 1006 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.