ALGOP – Governor Bentley Signs Women’s Health and Safety Act

Montgomery, AL – Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed HB57 today, also known as the “Women’s Health and Safety Act.” This bill will further protect women seeking an abortion by requiring that the state’s few remaining abortion clinics bring their facilities up to hospital code. The facilities will also be required to employ doctors with local hospital admitting privileges, which means that doctors may no longer be allowed to fly in from out of state to perform abortions and then leave. One of the final components of the bill is to require anyone under the age of 16 who is receiving an abortion to provide the name and age of the father to the clinic.

ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead issues a positive response to this new law.

“Our Republican leaders in Montgomery have put the safety of women and unborn children as their top priority. If a woman chooses to have an abortion, she deserves the best medical treatment and aftercare that can be provided. This new law will prevent abortion clinics from performing an abortion without providing follow up care and necessary prescription medications.

“I hope that Alabama can set an example to other states by demonstrating the importance of making women’s health a priority when performing an abortion.  No longer will these clinics be able to have their out-of-state abortion doctors make a quick buck by coming into Alabama to abort the babies with no concern for the mother…..much less the baby being aborted. This law will require these clinics to protect these women or face a serious penalty.  I applaud the legislature and Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R-Shelby) for passing this much needed law.  I am glad to see Governor Bentley sign it into law,” concludes Chairman Armistead.