N.J. Bill Would Restore Family Planning Funding; La. Gov. Signs Abortion Clinic Closure Law

A New Jersey bill would restore millions of dollars to family planning clinics after Gov. Christie cut the funding from the state budget. Meanwhile, Louisiana Gov. Jindal signed a law that gives the state health secretary the power to suspend abortion clinics' licenses. Summaries appear below.

~ Louisiana: On Wednesday, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) signed into law a bill (HB 1370) that authorizes the state's health secretary to suspend abortion clinics' licenses if he or she determines there is an immediate health or safety threat, the AP/CNBC reports. The clinics could appeal the license suspension. State Rep. Fred Mills (D), sponsor of the measure, said the law gives the secretary the same authority over abortion clinics as the state allows for some other health care facilities, including substance abuse and adult day care facilities (AP/CNBC, 6/23).

~ New Jersey: On Thursday, the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a bill (S 2139) that would restore $7.5 million to family planning centers after Gov. Chris Christie (R) eliminated the funding from the state budget, the New Jersey Record reports. All eight of the committee's Democrats voted for the measure, while the five Republicans either abstained or voted against it. The measure would prohibit the 58 health centers in question from using the money for abortion services. According to the Record, the clinics provided 60,000 breast exams, 27,000 HIV tests and 70,000 Pap tests in 2009. The funding for the clinics would come from the state employee prescription drug program (Livio/Heininger, New Jersey Record, 6/24).


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