Texas Senate gives initial OK to bill requiring counseling before abortion
The Texas Senate on Thursday gave initial approval 21-10 to a bill that would require women to receive counseling from a third party organization before an abortion, over arguments from Democrats that such a requirement would be overly burdensome and could give state health officials too much discretion in implementing the program.
Senate Bill 2243 by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, would require a woman to meet with a counselor to discuss available resources for pregnant women in the state, including housing, child care, adoption services and others. Any counseling about abortion would be required to be medically accurate.
The counselor also would administer screening for domestic violence and human trafficking.
“A lack of information or fear or isolation or feeling alone — all of these are probably the worst reasons or the worst conditions under which any of us would make any big decision,” Paxton said during the debate, noting that the bill would ensure women receive guidance so “they can make a decision that is based on reality, not on fear or lack of information.”
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20190502/texas-senate-gives-initial-ok-to-bill-requiring-counseling-before-abortion
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