The Senate on Thursday voted to send to the governor a bill that would require women to call a hotline before receiving an abortion.
The Senate voted 28-5 to approve House Bill 1195 by Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Benton-ville.
Under Dotson’s proposed “Every Mom Matters Act,” the hotline would inform women of services they can receive if they remain pregnant. Dotson told a Senate committee that the measure is aimed at reducing the number of abortions in the state.
Dotson has estimated the cost of implementing the program at $1.2 million to $1.5 million, based on figures from similar programs in other states. However, Health Department officials told a legislative committee last week that it would cost $4 million to $5 million to develop and fund the hotline and connection to services.
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