“Threats To Roe V. Wade Could Have Dire Consequences For Arizona Women”
Politics Unplugged: “State GOP leader will ‘absolutely not’ repeal archaic laws banning abortion”
PHOENIX — Today marks the 47th anniversary of the ruling on Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court on Jan. 22, 1973. However reproductive rights are uncertain in Arizona since Republican members of Congress have urged the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.
Arizona has archaic state laws that could imprison women for having an abortion, experiencing a miscarriage, and could also ban the use of birth control. These laws are not currently enforced, however, if Roe were overturned they could be brought back.
During an interview on Politics Unplugged with reporter Dennis Welch, State Rep. T.J Shope, Speaker Pro Tempore, stated that Republicans would “absolutely not” attempt to repeal the laws this session.
Welch: “Is that something that would be considered by Republicans?”
Shope: “Absolutely not.”
“With congressional Republicans urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade as soon as this summer, state Republicans are playing a dangerous game that will harm the lives of Arizona women,” said Murphy Bannerman, ADLCC Communications Director
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Background
AZCentral: Arizona still has a law banning abortion on the books
By: Lauren Castle
Date: July 7, 2018
Key Points:
“Arizona since at least the early 1960s has had laws on its books banning abortion and restricting birth control.”
“abortion illegal unless the woman's life is at risk. It has no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.”
“a person can face time in prison for giving a woman medicine or using an instrument to "procure the miscarriage." A woman can face up to five years in prison for soliciting medication or drugs, or undergoing an operation that will "procure a miscarriage.
"law on the Arizona books that states that a person who writes or publishes a notice or advertisement for a medication to help facilitate a miscarriage, abortion or for "prevention of conception" can be found guilty of a misdemeanor.”
“Arizona in the past has been named the nation's most anti-abortion state by Americans United for Life-based on the state restrictions on abortion.”
Arizona Abortion Restrictions in force as of 7/1/2016
(1999) Abortion clinic regulations - enacts special regulations for a clinic that provides abortion care.
(2009) The law requires all women to come to an abortion clinic twice before they may receive an abortion; women must receive state-mandated counseling at the first visit and only then may return, after at least 24 hours, to obtain an abortion. The information that must be provided during the first visit is intended to persuade women not to have abortions and is in some respects inaccurate. For example, the law requires a physician or a qualified health professional to tell patients that there are state services that may be able to provide financial assistance if the woman chooses to continue the pregnancy, even if there is no funding truly available. Moreover, the statute requires that a physician describe the anatomical features of the fetus at the time the abortion is to be performed. The law makes no exception for women who are victims of rape or incest or who have wanted pregnancies but are terminating due to fetal anomalies, even though these women may find the information upsetting or traumatizing.
(2009) Notarized parental consent for women under age 18; nurse practitioners are no longer able to provide any abortion service, not even abortion-by-pill, even though it was determined by the Arizona Board of Nursing to be within their scope of practice; so-called "Partial Birth Abortion" ban. The law prohibits any healthcare provider who has been asked by any person about abortion to charge for his or her services until after the twenty-four waiting period has expired. The law is vague whether counseling services are included in the 24 hour waiting period.
(2010) Abortion is covered in insurance policies for public employees only in cases when the woman's life is endangered or her health is severely compromised; health plans offered in the state’s health exchange under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion when the woman's life is endangered or her health is severely compromised.
(2011) An abortion-by-pill patient is observed in a supervised recovery room; requiring an ultrasound be performed at least 24 hours before the procedure; the use of telemedicine for the performance of medication abortion is prohibited.
(2012) Admitting Privileges A physician is available: (a) For a surgical abortion who has admitting privileges at a health care institution that is classified by the director as a hospital pursuant to section 36-405, subsection B and that is within thirty miles of the abortion clinic. (b) For a medication abortion who has admitting privileges at a health care institution that is classified by the director as a hospital pursuant to section 36-405, subsection B. 4. If a physician is not present, a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse or physician assistant is present and remains at the clinic when abortions are performed to provide postoperative monitoring and care, or monitoring and care after inducing a medication abortion, until each patient who had an abortion that day is discharged.
(2015) Proof of admitting privileges to be submitted with annual license re-application.
(2016) Ban on research of fetal tissue derived from an abortion.