South Dakota Legislative Panel Endorses Longer Abortion Wait
A South Dakota committee on Friday voted to exclude weekends and holidays from the waiting period before a woman can have an abortion.
South Dakota law requires a woman seeking an abortion to wait 72 hours before the procedure. If House Bill 1237 passes, that time might be extended.
Supporters said the extension is necessary to give women time to get mandated counseling before their abortion — counseling they said might not be available on weekends or holidays.
“As a matter of public policy, we should afford these pregnant mothers reasonable access to these counseling sessions,” said Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, the prime sponsor of the proposal.
Opponents said the bill simply was about making it harder for women to have abortions.