House to Vote on Bill Banning Certain Abortions

Members of the House will vote on a bill Monday that would ban a commonly used second-trimester abortion method.

Senate Bill 10 bans dilation and evacuation, or D&E, abortions, but allows those procedures to take place in cases of medical emergencies. Some doctors, however, have testified before lawmakers that the bill takes away one of the safest options for women and interferes with the doctor-patient relationship.

Delegates would have amended the bill Saturday, but after a motion from Majority Leader Daryl Cowles, the bill was pushed to third reading with pending amendments.

As of Saturday evening, only Del. Nancy Guthrie, a Democrat from Kanawha County had offered an amendment. It adds a provision to allow for an elective D&E abortion if a woman was a victim of incest or rape if the rape is reported to a law-enforcement agency.

The amendment and the bill will be voted on in the House Monday.