Abortion survey bill heads to Kansas governor's desk

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A bill requiring doctors to ask patients why they're getting an abortion in Kansas is heading to Governor Laura Kelly's desk.

The Kansas Senate voted 27-13 to pass the bill on Tuesday, March 26.

"The concept of gathering data to better understand abortion is a worthwhile endeavor," said Senator Mark Steffen, a Republican from Hutchinson. "What we do know about abortion is that it's not the pathway to convenience or the pursuit of happiness, because the pursuit of happiness is not convenient, but rife with difficulties, like all great accomplishments, such as motherhood. Abortion is the pathway to a life of regret and emptiness... that I promise you."

The bill would require, except in the case of a medical emergency, each patient to be asked, prior to the termination of a pregnancy, to indicate the most important factor regarding their reason for deciding to seek an abortion. According to the supplementary note on the bill, if the patient declines to answer, that response would be recorded.

The bill would also require providers to submit written reports of pregnancies lawfully terminated to the Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment on a biannual basis. Current law requires facilities and providers to submit these reports on an annual basis.

Each report would also be required to include information about the patient, such as their race, residence and marital status.

During hearings on the bill, opponents argued that the reporting requirement changes would place an “undue burden” on providers and patients. Supporters, however, argue that it would provide a better understanding of the reasons why women seek abortions.

Some Republicans rose in opposition to the bill in the Senate. Senator Carolyn McGinn, a Republican from Sedgwick, said she usually votes for "pro-life" legislation, but questioned some of the language in the bill.

"Listening to the debate yesterday, it clearly showed that there were a lot of flaws in this bill that, I think, could have unintended consequences for people's privacy, and I don't know that it clearly spelled out exactly what it's going to do and how it's going to help women and decrease abortions," McGinn said.

Democrats also spoke against the bill.

"Individuals should not be asked to justify their access to legal healthcare," said Senator Marci Francisco, a Democrat from Lawrence. "This question is not medically necessary, yet requires providers to interrogate their patients, asking about their life circumstances. That questioning is disruptive and is likely to trigger trauma and create hardships for staff."

The Senate has enough votes to override a veto from the governor, if one comes down.

However, the House voted 81-39 to pass the bill earlier this month, falling three votes shy of the majority needed to override a veto. Three Republican representatives were also absent that day.

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