Topeka ? A bill strengthening regulation of abortion clinics easily won House approval today, but Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she hopes legislators will rewrite it so that it also applies to other health care providers.

The House’s 87-36 vote sent the measure to the Senate, where a similar bill died last year. In 2003, Sebelius, who supports abortion rights, vetoed a similar measure.

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Sebelius said she would support a measure that would allow the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to regulate all clinics that fall into the category of ambulatory, surgical centers.

“The safety and security of Kansas women and girls who seek medical procedures is incredibly important. It’s also important for men and boys to have safe and secure medical procedures.

“So, I think having a set of standards that is put together by doctors, and applied across the board, makes very good sense, and I would love to that to reach my desk,” Sebelius said.

The margin in the House was three votes more than the two-thirds majority necessary to override a governor’s veto.

The House bill applies only to abortion clinics and would require their licensing by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The bill also would set minimum health and safety standards.

The department regulates hospitals and outpatient surgery centers, but not clinics or doctor’s offices where minor surgeries are performed under local anesthesia. State law puts abortion clinics in that last category, though their doctors are regulated by the State Board of Healing Arts.

The bill’s supporters, who also generally oppose abortion, contend regulation of the clinics is too weak, leaving women in danger. Abortion rights supporters contend the real goal is to make regulation burdensome enough to force clinics out of business.