Scarnati Supports Tighter
Restrictions for Abortion Clinics
Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) today voted for legislation that would set stricter regulations for abortion clinics in Pennsylvania.
Senate Bill 732 was introduced following a grand jury investigation of an abortion clinic in Philadelphia which had gone uninspected for 17 years and was operating under unsanitary and criminal conditions. The bill was improved and strengthened by an amendment offered by Senator Bob Mensch last week which Senator Scarnati also supported.
“The atrocities discovered at the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia made it clear that we need to require annual unannounced inspections for each abortion facility, set higher health and safety standards and implement a system that responds quickly to complaints,” Scarnati said. “This legislation will mandate that these facilities meet the same standards which other healthcare facilities must meet.”
The bill would require clinics that perform abortions after nine weeks of pregnancy to meet the same standards as the nearly 300 ambulatory surgical facilities that perform outpatient operations. Those facilities have larger surgical rooms, wider, hospital-grade elevators, and a registered nurse on-site at all times.
The language contained in Senate Bill 732 is similar to a bill sponsored by Representative Matt Baker (Tioga) which passed the House of Representatives last month. “I commend Representative Baker for his firm and timely response to this tragedy and hope that these strict standards will be signed into law by Governor Corbett in the very near future,” said Scarnati.
Senate Bill 732 now goes to the House for consideration.
Senate Bill 732 was introduced following a grand jury investigation of an abortion clinic in Philadelphia which had gone uninspected for 17 years and was operating under unsanitary and criminal conditions. The bill was improved and strengthened by an amendment offered by Senator Bob Mensch last week which Senator Scarnati also supported.
“The atrocities discovered at the Women’s Medical Society in West Philadelphia made it clear that we need to require annual unannounced inspections for each abortion facility, set higher health and safety standards and implement a system that responds quickly to complaints,” Scarnati said. “This legislation will mandate that these facilities meet the same standards which other healthcare facilities must meet.”
The bill would require clinics that perform abortions after nine weeks of pregnancy to meet the same standards as the nearly 300 ambulatory surgical facilities that perform outpatient operations. Those facilities have larger surgical rooms, wider, hospital-grade elevators, and a registered nurse on-site at all times.
The language contained in Senate Bill 732 is similar to a bill sponsored by Representative Matt Baker (Tioga) which passed the House of Representatives last month. “I commend Representative Baker for his firm and timely response to this tragedy and hope that these strict standards will be signed into law by Governor Corbett in the very near future,” said Scarnati.
Senate Bill 732 now goes to the House for consideration.
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