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Laura Kelly on Abortion |
Summary in ACLU-KS 2023 Legislative Update: HB 2264, a bill that not only requires abortion providers to promote state sponsored misinformation about mifepristone--the abortion pill--but would create criminal penalties up to the level of a personal felony for failure to do so.
Veto Message in Kansas Reflector, April 19, 2023: "Kansans made clear that they believe personal health care decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Topeka," Kelly said. "This bill would interfere with that relationship and, given the uncertain science behind it, could be harmful to Kansans' health."
Legislative Outcome:Vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly on Apr/19/23; House overrode veto 84-40-1 on Apr/26/23; Senate overrode veto 29-11-0 on Apr/27/23.
Analysis by Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas doctors will be banned from performing a procedure used in 8% of the state's abortions. The legislation bans so-called dismemberment abortions, prohibiting the use of dilation and evacuation--techniques that can result in parts of the fetus being severed apart. About 600 abortions are performed in the state annually using the procedure. Kansas is the first state to ban the procedure.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 31-9-0 on Feb/20/15; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Passed House 98-26-1 on Mar/25/15; Signed by Governor Sam Brownback on Apr/7/15.
Analysis by ThinkProgress.org: HB 2035 would require parental consent for anyone under 18 to have an abortion. Current law requires that one parent be notified, but neither parent can veto a daughter's abortion. Unsatisfied with tightening parental control, the GOP included provisions that allow family members to sue doctors and force women to agree that they're terminating a human being.Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-15-1 on Mar/23/11; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Passed House 100-22-3 on Mar/29/11; Signed by Governor Sam Brownback on Apr/27/11
NationalPartnership.org article on bill sponsor: According to Rep. Lance Kinzer (R), the debate over abortion rights should continue in the state because some laws aimed at restricting abortion access are not being enforced properly. Kinzer pushed legislation (S.B. 218) to strengthen the state's restrictions on abortions performed later in pregnancy.
A.P. in Taiwan News on veto message: Sebelius argued that doctors could have faced criminal prosecution even if they tried to comply with the law. She said that would "lead to the intimidation of health care providers & reduce access to comprehensive health care for women, even when it is necessary to preserve their lives and health."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 82-43-0 on Apr/3/2009; Passed Senate 25-11-4 on Apr/3/2009; State Sen. Laura Kelly voted NO; Vetoed by Governor Sibelius on Apr/23/2009
