By Dave Andrusko
Pro-life Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin
Not only was Senate Bill 4, a measure that tightens up the state’s informed consent law, the first bill the legislature sent to Gov. Matt Bevin this session, it was the first bill the new governor signed into law.
“We have worked for over a decade to correct the obviously flawed interpretation and enforcement of the original bill that we passed in 1998,” said Margie Montgomery, executive director of Kentucky Right to Life Association. “We are grateful for the thousands of pro-life citizens across the commonwealth who, for years, have been active in the legislative and political process. We thank pro-life Republican Leadership in both the House and Senate for working with us and, of course, our new Pro-life Governor! Elections do matter for women and their unborn babies.”
Since 1998, Kentucky’s 24-hour informed consent for abortion law has been enforced by a court order and the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure allowing a recorded telephone message which meant no interaction with the abortionist.
SB4 offers women the options of meetings in person or by real-time video consultation.
According to the Associated Press, the bill
won final legislative passage Monday, representing a rare compromise on abortion legislation in Kentucky’s politically divided legislature. Then in an unusual move, the Senate took a break from its business Tuesday to allow several lawmakers to accompany the bill’s delivery to the governor’s office. Bevin emerged from his inner office a few minutes later to greet the legislators.
“This is an extraordinary day,” Bevin said in signing his first bill into law since taking office.
In an interview, Bevin said, “I’m grateful for the chance to be able to sign meaningful legislation, and today was a day when a meaningful piece of legislation was put in front of me.” The law goes into effect in July.
The decision was made to sign the law yesterday rather than wait for a pro-life rally that will assemble at the Capitol February 11.
The AP’s Bruce Schreiner wrote
Senate President Robert Stivers said the impromptu signing reflected the bill’s significance.
“We wanted to make that type of a statement with the (bill) sponsor delivering to the new governor his first bill for signature,” Stivers, R-Manchester, told reporters.
Editor’s note. If you want to peruse stories all day long, go directly to nationalrighttolifenews.org and/or follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/daveha.