Two important pro-life bills are one step closer to becoming law in Arizona.
House Bill 2564 – The Abortion Consent Act — passed the Legislature and now is on to Gov. Jan Brewer for a signature. If she signs, parental consent will be required for any minor girl intending to abort her baby. The legislation also includes an informed-consent provision offering women information on abortion before they decide whether or not to have one.
Arizona Sen. Linda Gray said she and her colleagues heard testimony from women who did not know enough about abortion before going through the procedure.
"They had emotional scars throughout their life," she explained, "because they were not informed of what was going to occur with their abortion procedure."
In addition, the act would require women to wait 24 hours after meeting with an abortion clinic worker before having an abortion. It also protects the conscience rights of health care workers who do not want to participate in abortions.
Another piece of legislation, House Bill 2400, which would ban partial-birth abortions, also passed the Legislature and is headed to the governor's desk.
— Nima Reza
