Nevada
Nevada abortion bill meets stiff opposition in initial hearing
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A protracted anticipated and controversial abortion safety invoice was launched into committee for the primary time Monday drawing heavy assist and criticism from backers and opponents.
The invoice would codify abortion protections for sufferers looking for care from outdoors of the state initially protected in an govt order issued by then Governor Steve Sisolak within the days following the Supreme Court docket’s choice overturning Roe V. Wade.
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Senator Nicole Cannizzaro, (D) District 6, the Democrat’s predominant backer of the invoice, spoke in favor of it whereas bringing it to the committee ground.
“Sufferers who’re coming to Nevada and our healthcare suppliers working right here cannot depend on an govt order,” Cannizzaro stated. “They can’t depend on one thing that would tomorrow, or this afternoon frankly, may very well be gone.”
Anti-abortion advocates instantly bucked again towards the proposal claiming it could open a harmful door within the regulation.
Janine Hansen, Nevada Households for Freedom State President, believed that the invoice’s restriction on sharing reproductive care info with different states might restrict different investigations.
“What does that do? It places ladies in danger be predators, by intercourse traffickers as a result of after they come over the border to get an abortion no person asks any questions,” Hansen stated. “If the predator desires to eliminate all of the proof of his crimes, all he has to do is pressure the lady to have an abortion.”
Hansen stated she had no proof intercourse offenders have been exploiting the regulation because it stands underneath Sisolak’s govt order, however she stated the danger was actual.
“We’re selling predators and intercourse traffickers in our state,” she stated, “and is that how we wish to be recognized? That we’re the vacation spot location for killing the unborn and having abortions obtainable for everybody?”
In a press release, Cannizzaro dismissed the issues as conspiracy theories from anti-abortion activists.
“Nothing in Senate Invoice 131 weakens intercourse trafficking or different intercourse crime legal guidelines or prevents Nevada regulation enforcement from working with different states to prosecute conduct that’s already criminally unlawful in Nevada. Teams and people that oppose reproductive rights are ginning up utterly unfounded conspiracy theories about Senate Invoice 131 as a result of there may be nothing actual within the invoice for them to assault. Nevadans overwhelmingly assist the precise to decide on when or whether or not to be pregnant, and Senate Invoice 131 merely strengthens that proper.”
Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro
Cannizzaro’s argument was supported by Deliberate Parenthood Votes Govt Director Lindsey Harmon.
“That may be a purple herring,” Harmon stated. “That may be a distraction from what this invoice does. This invoice has nothing to do with intercourse trafficking.”
Harmon stated whereas the intercourse trafficking fears have been drummed up, the harms at the moment dealing with sufferers looking for care in Nevada from out of state are very actual.
“We’re at the moment seeing a rise in sufferers coming from out of state,” she stated, “and we all know that’s solely going to get exponentially worse as bordering states search to enact bans.”
In a press release, Governor Joe Lombardo’s workplace indicated he might signal the invoice into regulation if it reaches his desk.
“Governor Lombardo has inspired the Legislature to ship a clear invoice codifying the earlier govt order to his desk, and he appears ahead to reviewing the proposed laws,” stated Lombardo spokesperson Elizabeth Ray.