Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed a bill changing abortion laws in Kentucky on Tuesday, after a delegation of lawmakers presented it to him in his Capitol office. It was the first bill signed by the governor since taking office.
The Senate Bill 4 updates the state's informed consent law to require a woman seeking abortion to meet physician telling medical risks and benefits at least 24 hours before terminating a pregnancy. The bill supporters say some physicians circumvent the requirement by having patients listen to a recorded message, according to Associated Press.
The U.S. House of Representatives made the changes to the bill that the patients and doctors have the option of consultations of meeting in person or by real-time video. The House passed the Senate Bill 4 last week.
The bill won final legislative passage on Monday. In an unusual move, the Senate took a break from its business Tuesday to allow several lawmakers including the bill's lead sponsor, Republican Senator Julie Raque Adams, to deliver the bill to the governor's office. The governor signed the bill as soon as it arrived.
Governor Bevin said in a later interview that he was grateful for the chance to be able to sign meaningful legislation. "Today was a day when a meaningful piece of legislation was put in front of me," he said.
Senate Minority Leader Ray Jones, who is a Democrat, said that the bill is long overdue and that the issue was not Democrat or Republican, but its right or wrong, NRL News reports.
Margie Montgomery of Kentucky Right to Life said the main reason to have the bill is so a woman is not just ushered in and out to have an abortion.
Critics said the bill adds an unnecessary barrier to safe and legal abortions, by requiring a 24-hour, forced delay before the procedure for counseling.
Planned Parenthood, the largest elective abortion provider in the U.S., said the bill is just one more barrier and one more burden to what is the constitutional right of women.
Betty Cockrum, the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kentucky and Indiana said that the way to reduce number of abortion is with education and family planning, and not with barriers, WDRB reports.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Senator Max Wise, said the bill would set up a three-tier priority system for distributing federal family planning funds, with Planned Parenthood in the bottom category. It would also state that no state or local funds would be given to clinics such as Planned Parenthood.
The ceremonial of bill signing is set for February 11 during the Right to Life rally at the Capitol.
