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Iowa Republicans release information on proposed abortion bill

Iowa Republicans release information on proposed abortion bill
WITH BREAKING NEWS AND THAT BREAKING NEWS JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM TONIGHT. A BILL RESTRICTING ABORTION IN IOWA IS INTRODUCED JUST DAYS AHEAD OF A SPECIAL SESSION. CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER READ THAT BILL FOR US TONIGHT. AMANDA, TELL US WHAT LAWMAKERS IN PRODUCED INTO IT. WELL, JAMES, THOSE LAWMAKERS WANT MAJOR NEW LIMITS ON ABORTION AND THIS BILL NEARLY IDENTICAL TO ONE THAT LAWMAKERS PASSED IN 2018, BUT WAS LATER STRUCK DOWN IN COURT. THIS NEW PROPOSAL WOULD AGAIN BAN ANY ABORTION AFTER A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED. THAT’S USUALLY AFTER SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY. THE NEW BILL SAYS IOWA DOCTORS HAVE TO TEST ANY PREGNANT WOMAN SEEKING AN ABORTION TO SEE IF A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTABLE. IF THEY FIND A HEARTBEAT. THAT’S WHAT THE BILL DEFINES AS CARDIAC ACTIVITY. THE DOCTOR CANNOT PERFORM AN ABORTION. THE DOCTOR MUST PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN IN WRITING THE RESULTS OF THE TEST, AND THE PREGNANT WOMAN MUST SIGN AN ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIVING THE RESULTS AND IOWA’S FETAL HEARTBEAT RULE. NOW, THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS IN CASE OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY, DOCTORS CAN PERFORM AN ABORTION ONLY IF IT’S TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER OR IF THERE’S A, QUOTE, SERIOUS RISK OF SUBSTANTIAL AND IRREVERSIBLE HARM TO A, QUOTE, MAJORLY BODILY FUNCTION. ABORTIONS WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED IF THE PREGNANCY IS A RESULT OF RAPE OR INCEST. AND THAT BILL WOULD TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY ONCE IT’S SIGNED INTO LAW. SOME DOCTORS ARE CONCERNED THAT THOSE NEW RULES COULD CREATE EXTRA STRESS DURING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, ARGUING THAT WOULD PUT MORE PREGNANT WOMEN IN DANGER. THEY ALSO SAY THIS PLAN WOULD BAN ABORTION BEFORE MOST WOMEN KNOW THAT THEY’RE PREGNANT, THAT IS A VERY POORLY WRITTEN PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE EQUALLY APPLIED TO ALL IOWANS OR ALL PATIENTS. LAWMAKERS WILL BE BACK AT THE STATE HOUSE TUESDAY. THEY HAVE ONLY UNTIL 11 P.M. TUESDAY TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON THIS. NOW, IOWANS DO HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHARE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS BILL. TUESDAY MORNING IN ROOM 103 AT THE STATEHOUSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING WILL START AT 9:30 A.M. AND ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC CAN ATTEND. AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS, THOUGH, HAS TO SIGN UP ONLINE AT IOWA DOT GOV AND MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON PUBLIC HEARING THAT’S UNDER THE HOUSE MEETING SCHEDULE SECTION ONLINE. EACH PERSON WILL GET
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Iowa Republicans release information on proposed abortion bill
Iowa Republicans on Friday released their proposal for abortion restrictions that are the subject of next week's special legislative session.Lawmakers will debate and vote on SSB 1223 next Tuesday when they return to the statehouse. If it becomes law, the bill would prohibit abortion in the state upon detection of a fetal heartbeat.The current draft of the bill, which may be amended before a vote, includes exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, incest and fetal abnormality, according to the Associated Press.The proposed measure is similar to a 2018 law that a deadlocked state Supreme Court declined to reinstate last month, prompting Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds to call for the extraordinary session, the Associate Press reports."Nothing in the heartbeat law would ever restrict medical professionals from fully protecting a woman's life," said Maggie DeWitte, the executive director for Pulse Life Advocates. However, some health care providers disagree. Progress Iowa held a virtual press conference Friday afternoon, allowing several health care providers to share their concerns with journalists. "These government mandates don't really work in real life when we're having to make quick decisions in real-time," said Dr. Jill Meadows, the former medical director for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. Health care providers are concerned about how this will impact physicians involved with maternity health and their desire to work or stay in Iowa. Another concern is the dramatic responsibility doctors may feel they have to have when left with a difficult decision. "If I have a woman who comes in earlier in her pregnancy who's hemorrhaging and her life is at risk, I will not have the time, the personnel, or the resources to try to figure out how far along she is and how quickly her pregnancy could kill her," said Dr. Emily Boevers, an OB-GYN in Waverly. Watch: Doctors and physicians speak out on the risks of an abortion ban in IowaAbortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.A public hearing on the bill will start at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in room 103 at the Statehouse. Those who want to speak during the public hearing must sign up on the Iowa Legislature's website.Senate lawmakers have from 9-11 a.m. to caucus. At 11 a.m., the Senate state government committee will consider the bill. Once the bill passes committee, it will be called SF 579 or HF 732 if they go with the House version.Senate lawmakers will reconvene at 4 p.m. to debate the final version of the bill.Lawmakers have until 11 p.m. to debate and vote on the final version of the bill.

Iowa Republicans on Friday released their proposal for abortion restrictions that are the subject of next week's special legislative session.

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Lawmakers will debate and vote on SSB 1223 next Tuesday when they return to the statehouse. If it becomes law, the bill would prohibit abortion in the state upon detection of a fetal heartbeat.

The current draft of the bill, which may be amended before a vote, includes exceptions for medical emergencies, rape, incest and fetal abnormality, according to the Associated Press.

The proposed measure is similar to a 2018 law that a deadlocked state Supreme Court declined to reinstate last month, prompting Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds to call for the extraordinary session, the Associate Press reports.

"Nothing in the heartbeat law would ever restrict medical professionals from fully protecting a woman's life," said Maggie DeWitte, the executive director for Pulse Life Advocates.

However, some health care providers disagree.

Progress Iowa held a virtual press conference Friday afternoon, allowing several health care providers to share their concerns with journalists.

"These government mandates don't really work in real life when we're having to make quick decisions in real-time," said Dr. Jill Meadows, the former medical director for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.

Health care providers are concerned about how this will impact physicians involved with maternity health and their desire to work or stay in Iowa.

Another concern is the dramatic responsibility doctors may feel they have to have when left with a difficult decision.

"If I have a woman who comes in earlier in her pregnancy who's hemorrhaging and her life is at risk, I will not have the time, the personnel, or the resources to try to figure out how far along she is and how quickly her pregnancy could kill her," said Dr. Emily Boevers, an OB-GYN in Waverly.

Watch: Doctors and physicians speak out on the risks of an abortion ban in Iowa

Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

A public hearing on the bill will start at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in room 103 at the Statehouse. Those who want to speak during the public hearing must sign up on the Iowa Legislature's website.

Senate lawmakers have from 9-11 a.m. to caucus. At 11 a.m., the Senate state government committee will consider the bill. Once the bill passes committee, it will be called SF 579 or HF 732 if they go with the House version.

Senate lawmakers will reconvene at 4 p.m. to debate the final version of the bill.

Lawmakers have until 11 p.m. to debate and vote on the final version of the bill.