South Dakota Bill Revising Regulations for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (HB 1212)

HB 1212 would revise current regulations of pregnancy help centers in the state of South Dakota.

The bill would allow a licensed social worker to be an option among the staff required to be available at a pregnancy center to provide counseling for patients. The bill would also require the counseling to be in accordance with the Uniform Policy and Procedures Guidelines developed and promulgated by the South Dakota Association of Registered Pregnancy Help Centers. If a center fails to do so, they may be removed from the state’s registry of pregnancy help centers.

Included in the information are statements about abortion such as:

• The procedure would terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being;
• Medical risks include depression and related psychological distress and increased risk of suicide; and
• A statement setting forth an accurate rate of deaths due to abortions, including all deaths in which the abortion procedure was a substantial contributing factor.

This bill would amend 34-23A-10.1 to update the requirement that the disclosures be provided to the pregnant woman in writing and in person 72 hours before the procedure is to be performed.

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