INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on an Indiana bill that would ban abortions from being performed because of fetal genetic abnormalities (all times local):
5:50 p.m.
Opponents of an Indiana measure banning women from getting abortions because of fetal genetic defects say they plan fight the law in court.
Indiana’s Planned Parenthood affiliate says Republican Gov. Mike Pence injected his personal ideology into public health policy in deciding to sign the bill Thursday.
The group says it is working with the American Civil Liberties Union and expects to ask a judge to put the law on hold before it takes effect in July.
The law would also prohibit abortions from being performed because of a fetus’s race, sex or ancestry.
5:25 p.m.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he believes a bill banning women from getting abortions because of fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome affirms the value of all human life.
The Republican governor signed the contentious measure into law on Thursday, making Indiana the second state with such a ban.
Pence said in a statement that he believe the legislation takes “an important step in protecting the unborn.”
The law will take effect in July. It will also prohibit abortions from being performed because of a fetus’s race, sex or ancestry.
The bill has been criticized by medical professionals and several female Republican members of the Indiana Legislature, who say it goes too far in telling women what they can and cannot do.
4:55 p.m.
Republican Gov. Mike Pence has signed a bill making Indiana the second state to ban abortions because of fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
The governor’s office says Pence signed the measure Thursday, just hours ahead of his deadline to take action on the bill passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature.
The new law takes effect in July. It will also prohibit abortions from being performed because of a fetus’s race, sex or ancestry and mandate that the only way to dispose of an aborted fetus is through burial or cremation.
The bill has drawn backlash from medical professionals and several female Republican members of the Indiana Legislature who say it goes too far in telling women what they can and cannot do.
North Dakota adopted similar restrictions in 2013.
7:30 a.m.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is facing a deadline to take action on a measure that would ban abortions because of fetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome.
Pence reiterated his anti-abortion stance when he spoke about the measure Wednesday. Thursday is the deadline for him to act on bills the General Assembly has approved. Pence could allow the bill to go into law by not signing it, but it would take a veto to halt the measure.
The bill has drawn backlash from medical professionals and several female Republican members of the Indiana Legislature who say the bill goes too far in telling women what they can and cannot do.
If it became law, Indiana would be the second state after North Dakota to have such restrictions.
