House Panel Passes Abortion Cleanup Language

PIERRE, SD - A South Dakota House committee has approved a measure that would make changes to the state's one-year old abortion law that is being challenged in court.

The Legislature last year passed a law requiring women seeking abortions to wait 72 hours and undergo counseling at pregnancy help centers that discourage abortions.

Planned Parenthood contends the law is unconstitutional, and a federal judge has suspended the law from taking effect while it's being challenged in court. 

The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-2 Wednesday to approve changes to last year's law dealing with consultations at the pregnancy help centers, which are supposed to determine if a woman has been coerced into getting an abortion.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Roger Hunt of Brandon, says it just clarifies some aspects of last year's law.