Just a few weeks ago, two pro-life bills were stalled in the Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and a third bill was awaiting further debate by the full Legislature. In the last two weeks, these bills (all supported by my office) are finally moving through the legislative process.
Every bill introduced in our Unicameral must be advanced out of a committee by a majority of its members. Then each bill must receive three votes before final passage. The three rounds of debate/voting are called "General File," "Select File" and "Final Reading."
LB22
The first of the pro-life bills to be debated and adopted by the full Legislature is LB 22. This bill, introduced by Sen. Beau McCoy, prohibits abortion coverage in health insurance plans offered through state health insurance exchanges created by the federal health care law. It also prohibits private health insurance plans, contracts or policies from providing coverage for an elective abortion except through an optional rider to the policy for which an additional premium is paid solely by the insured.
Last week, the Legislature gave final approval to LB 22 by an overwhelming vote of 37 to 7. The bill will now go to Governor Heineman who will likely sign the bill into law.
LB521
The second pro-life bill to advance is LB 521, which prohibits so-called "web cam abortions." Introduced by Sen. Tony Fulton, this bill requires an abortionist to be physically present in the same room with the pregnant woman when the abortion is performed. The bill is a response to an abortion practice being done in Iowa by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which has facilities in Iowa and Nebraska.
A "web cam" abortion involves an internet video connection between an abortion doctor and a pregnant woman at a remote Planned Parenthood facility. After providing the woman with some information, the abortion doctor uses the "mouse" on his computer to remotely open a drawer in the woman’s room which contains the chemical drug regimen called RU 486.
After conducting a public hearing on LB 521 in March, two months went by before the Judiciary Committee advanced the bill to the full Legislature May 4. On May 10, the Legislature voted to advance the bill to the second round of debate on a vote of 34 to 9.
By the time this column is printed, LB 521 will likely have advanced to Final Reading. Given the overwhelming support this bill received on its first vote, I expect that it will easily be adopted by the Legislature and signed into law by our Governor.
LB690
Finally, after also sitting in the Judiciary Committee for two months, LB 690 was advanced to General File May 11. LB 690, introduced by Sen. Lydia Brasch, would replace Nebraska’s parental notification law (in effect since 1991) with the requirement that a minor (unemancipated woman less than 18 years of age) obtain notarized parental consent from a parent or guardian before obtaining an abortion.
This bill is also likely to have strong support in the Legislature and may have received first round debate and approval by the time this column is printed. Information on these and other bills, including how each senator voted, is available on my website at www.nebcathcon.org (click on "Nebraska" under "Pro Life Legislation 2011").
You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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