Arkansas Bill Amending Laws Related to Abortion Clinics (SB 1050)

SB 1050 would have amended laws concerning unlawful abortions, the procedure of denial, suspension, or revocation of a health facilities service license, and amend laws regarding abortion clinics.

Under the changes, abortion procedures would only be able to be performed by physicians, rather than “medical practitioners.”

Changes to denial, suspension, or revocation of a health care service license:

• The Health department may issue an immediate suspension of a license if an investigation or survey determines that the licensee is in violation of any federal or state law, rule or regulation; and the violation poses an imminent threat to the health, welfare, or safety of a patient.
• The department would be required to give the applicant or licensee written notice of the immediate suspension.
• The denial, suspension, or revocation order would remain in effect until all violations have been corrected.

Clinic Inspections

Annual inspections of abortion facilities without prior notice or announcement would have been required.  Inspections would include without limitation the facilities, equipment, procedures, techniques, medical records, informed consent signatures, parental consent signatures, and conditions of a clinic or similar facility.

Under SB 1050 abortion facilities would have been required to pay an annual fee of $500 for issuance of a permanent license.

STATUS

Died in Committee.

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