Rule changes that will put into effect a 2013 law banning most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy were accepted by a legislative committee Friday with no discussion.
The House and Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor committees heard the changes to the Department of Health regulations that govern abortion providers in Arkansas. Most of the changes were to the technical definition of abortion and to language requiring that all providers perform a fetal age test.
The lack of discussion on the rules and no comment from the public were uncharacteristic. The measure had been hotly contested in previous years.
A similar bill passed in 2013and became law after lawmakers overrode a veto by Gov. Mike Beebe.
It is now Act 171.
In addition to Act 171, the Arkansas Legislature also passed Act 301, which banned abortions after 12 weeks if a fetal heartbeat could be detected by abdominal ultrasound. Act 301 has been halted pending the outcome of a challenge in federal court.
Arkansas, Pages 18 on 01/25/2014