Columbus — Fresh from the last unconstitutional abortion ban bill signing in Ohio, a state senate committee today voted to approve a new unconstitutional abortion restriction. Just like House Bill 214, Senate Bill 28 is also an idea that has already been blocked by a federal judge in Indiana.
NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Deputy Director Jaime Miracle testified: “This bill is just like all of the other abortion restrictions in Ohio since 2011. It is just another sham, based on inaccurate information, being used to block access to safe, legal abortion care in our state. Just like the Down syndrome abortion ban passed last month, it is wildly unconstitutional and will result in the wasting of tens or even hundreds of thousands of tax dollars defending it against court challenges. When are Ohio lawmakers going to stop abusing their political office by attacking abortion access?”
The bill applies unnecessary restrictions on women seeking abortion, forcing them to either select burial or cremation for biological material following an abortion. It also increases mandatory reporting requirements for abortion providers that are not demanded of other physicians. As the bill attempts to shame women making a decision on abortion, and increases costs to abortion providers, it is an undue burden in violation of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.
In December, 2016, Rep. Nickie Antonio requested a memo from the Legislative Service Commission (.pdf) to determine how much Ohioans should expect court battles over unconstitutional abortion restrictions to cost in tax dollars. Using Indiana as an example: LSC found: “According to the Indiana State Auditor, between 2011 and 2017, the state paid $2.8 million, or an average of $400,000 each year, to the ACLU following the group’s successful challenges to various unconstitutional state laws including laws restricting the right to an abortion.”
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