House Bill 1337 prohibits a person from performing an abortion if the person knows that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion exclusively because of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex of the fetus.
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Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has until the end of the day Thursday to sign or veto the bill, the Indianapolis Star reported. The law is set to take effect in July, and it is believed that pro-abortion rights organizations will try to challenge the law in court.
“These Hoosiers never fail to inspire me with their compassion and these special children never fail to move me with their love and joy”, Pence said in a statement.
A statement from Pence’s office emphasized a need for IDEM having flexibility to take action when necessary.
Pro-life leaders are praising the new law.
The FanDuel statement noted that IN is the second state to pass such legislation, joining Virginia, while more than 20 states have similar laws under consideration.
The legislation signed Thursday follows an audit a year ago that found that the bureau had overcharged customers more than $60 million since 2013.
IN state Sen. Liz Brown, who worked with Holdman on the measure, said previously that many families face pressure to abort from doctors or other health care professionals when their babies are diagnosed with an illness or disability in the womb.
Medical malpractice victims will be eligible for more compensation now that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a bill increasing the payment cap for the first time since the 1990s.
“Gov. Pence has always been a champion for the unborn and their mothers”, said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life.
A doctor who performs an abortion knowing the woman’s motivation for terminating her pregnancy is due to a diagnosis, or potential diagnosis, of a genetic fetal anomaly or disability risks losing his or her medical license and is subject to civil financial penalties under the new law.
Republicans ushered the bill through the state legislature over the last three months despite opposition from some conservative lawmakers, including Representative Cindy Kirchhofer, who felt the measure was too restrictive.
Pence was a prominent abortion rights opponent while serving in Congress before being elected governor in 2012 and received ideal scores from Indiana Right to Life for his record of opposing abortion.
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Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also disagreed with the governor’s decision, taking to twitter to say, “the decision to have an abortion is for a woman to make, not the governor of IN”.
