Future not clear for bill on abortion
If Judiciary B Committee Chairman Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, ignores House Bill 520, it will die on the House calendar when the session ends April 19.
The House approved the bill 79-41 on Thursday, after the Senate had added eight pages of changes, including a provision that allows a parent or guardian to sue whoever helps a teen get an abortion without parental consent. The original bill would add criminal and civil penalties for falsely reporting child abuse or neglect.
The bill was held on a motion to reconsider by Rep. Bennett Malone, D-Carthage.
While Bailey would not discuss what he will do before the session ends in three weeks, he is adamantly against amendments made to the bill. “I thought the provisions made by the Senate were unconstitutional and conflicted with federal law on privacy rights,” Bailey said.
Clarion Ledger
3/29/8
Magnolia Tribune
