Changes sought for clinic regulations, parental notification

? The House approved four bills pushed by abortion opponents Wednesday, including measures imposing new regulations on clinics and tightening a parental notification law.

One bill, passed 79-44, would require the secretary of health and environment to establish minimum health and staffing standards for abortion clinics.

Another, approved 77-46, amends a 1992 law requiring doctors to notify a parent or guardian when a minor seeks an abortion. The bill specifies that the notice be given in person or by certified mail.

Also approved, on a 73-50 vote, was a bill making it a crime to injure or kill a fetus, except for an abortion. But abortion opponents see declaring that a fetus is a human worthy of protection as an important statement to make in the criminal code.

The final measure allows the state to issue “Choose Life” license plates. It passed on a 64-59 vote.

The first three measures went to the Senate. The license plate bill went to Gov. Bill Graves, because the Senate approved an identical version, 21-19, six weeks ago.

When the House debated the four measures Tuesday, the license plate bill getting the most attention  something neither supporters nor critics could explain.

In past years, anti-abortion legislators have tried to restrict late-term procedures but found their opportunities limited by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“There are areas where we can legislate,” said Rep. Tony Powell, R-Wichita, a leading abortion opponent. “If we can move the ball forward, we’d like to do that.”

Proposals to restrict abortion have faced strong opposition in the Senate, which is more evenly divided between the two sides.

Although proponents of the measures said they did not attack abortion rights, critics said they would make it harder to obtain an abortion.

“I think the agenda for those who support the bills is to damage and pick away at a woman’s right to choose at all,” said Rep. Annie Kuether, D-Topeka, an abortion rights supporter. “It’s just coming from all directions.”

The clinic regulation bill would require each abortion provider to retain a licensed physician as a medical director, make sure a nurse was present when a patient was examined and have a nurse or physician assistant monitor patients until they are discharged.

Clinics also would have to have life-support systems and equipment for patients.

Abortion opponents said the bill would protect women from unsafe conditions. But Rep. Rick Rehorn, D-Kansas City, said only two of the state’s seven clinics  those operated by Dr. George Tiller in Wichita and Planned Parenthood in Overland Park  probably could afford to comply with the new requirements.