Other News from Tennessee Legislature
Peggy Meier, with special thanks to Hedy Weinberg of the
Tennessee ACLU
The 99th Tennessee General Assembly introduced 11 bills
pertaining to reproductive choice. Two bills passed in both
houses; three were "taken off notice"; three had no action in
committee; one had no Senate sponsor; one was withdrawn;
and one is expected to move next year.
The bill that is expected to move next year would prohibit
certain obstruction or intimidation concerning reproductive
health services or places of religious worship, defining such
action as a Class E felony.
One bill, which has been introduced in several sessions and
will be introduced again, would require a non-resident
physician who performs abortion to maintain an on-call
arrangement with a physician who resides in the county where
the abortion is performed and to provide physician information
to the patient at the time of dismissal from the facility.
Late-term Abortion -- Legal Developments in Other States
Louisiana
The Louisiana legislature passed a bill to ban certain abortion
procedures, with the lone exception to save a woman's life. Doctors
convicted of violating the law would be subject to up to 10 years in prison
and $100,000 in fines. Five health clinics challenged the ban, and a U.S.
district judge issued a temporary restraining order on July 14 banning
enforcement of the law, which went into effect immediate when signed by the
governor on July 10. On July 17 a federal district court in Arizona issued a
temporary restraining order barring enforcement of that state's ban on
certain abortion procedures.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Senate approved a similar bill on June 16. The vote was
shy of the majority needed to override the veto promised by pro-choice Gov.
Christie Whitman, who had said she probably would send the bill back with a
conditional veto. She has said that she will not sign any bill that does not
protect a woman's health.
Missouri
Pro-choice Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan (D) vetoed a bill that would ban
certain abortion procedures. He said he would not support any bill that did
not include an exception to protect a woman's life, maintaining that was a
requirement of the U.S. Supreme Court's abortion decisions.
Last Modified October 26, 1997