And that's what the bill is for, to help us get to the Supreme Court. MARY BENTLEY: The reason we're bringing forth this bill - and I will say unashamedly, I'm hoping that we, Arkansas, will be the start to the end of abortion in America. Here's Republican Representative Mary Bentley discussing the bill in front of the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee last week. And so it wasn't really a secret that that was the intent of this bill. Wade decision, as well as other Supreme Court rulings that advocate or that advance abortion rights. And this bill begins with a statement that it's aimed at overturning the Roe v. So this is just one of many anti-abortion bills the Arkansas legislature has passed this session. And is the effort here really to just start the process of getting this to the Supreme Court? The Supreme Court, of course, became much more conservative last fall. This seems to really be about setting up a court case. They also stated their intent to challenge the law, saying, quote, "Governor Hutchinson, we'll see you in court," which is just what the sponsors of the legislation want.ĭETROW: Yeah. The ACLU of Arkansas has already issued a statement condemning the law, calling it cruel and unconstitutional. The law will likely be challenged in court before then. So it's not expected to take effect until summer at the earliest. So it doesn't actually take effect until 90 days after the current legislature adjourns. When does this go into effect? What do we expect to happen as a response? The bill does not impose penalties on the patient receiving the abortion.ĭETROW: So walk us through what happens next. KELLOGG: So the penalties are all against those who are performing the abortion itself, and that could include a fine of up to $100,000, jail time of up to 10 years or a combination of fines or jail time. And what the legislation does not include are exemptions for instances of rape or incest, which caused some members who have voted for anti-abortion legislation in the past to express some concern or not vote for the bill.ĭETROW: What are the penalties that doctors and patients face under this law? But that's not actually listed in those exceptions. And lawmakers repeatedly said to save the life of the mother when it was going through the session. It does list some very narrow medical exceptions where abortion would be allowed, and those are to save the life or health of an unborn child, to remove a dead child caused by, quote, "spontaneous abortion" or to remove an ectopic pregnancy. So the law completely bans the practice of abortion at any stage. Good morning, Sarah.ĭETROW: So what exactly does this new law allow or prohibit? Sarah Kellogg of member station KUAR in Little Rock joins us now. In fact, abortion rights opponents are hoping it will end up in the U.S. The law is expected to be challenged in court. That's despite some reservations he had expressed about the measure's details. Governor Asa Hutchinson signed it into law yesterday. Arkansas has approved an almost complete ban on abortions.
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