Controversial abortion bill filed first

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lawmakers have been scrambling to file bills they have been working on since session 2007 ended. One of the first to hit the Capitol is a bill sponsored by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio). HB 36 would mandate a new version of informed consent for abortions. A doctor would be required to perform an ultrasound on a woman who wanted to have an abortion and provide her with the images of the fetus. The doctor would also have provide the woman with the sound of the heartbeat and provide a medical description of the dimensions of the embryo or fetus.

"A pregnant woman may avert her eyes from the ultrasound images required to be provided to and reviewed with the pregnant woman," the bill reads. "An ultrasound is a medical tool," said NARAL executive director Sara Cleveland. "It is not a political tool." NARAL is a pro-choice, family planning organization that is staunchly against the bill.

"We have the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the country, " said Cleveland. "We should be dedicating our money and time to dealing with prevention instead of these political maneuvers." However, there are organizations that support the bill. LifeCare, a pregnancy help center, counsels pregnant women on alternatives to abortion. Volunteers provide free ultrasounds and said when a woman sees the image, 80 percent of the time she will not have the abortion.

"They realize it is a life inside of them, not just tissue," said LifeCare executive director Pam Cobern.
A similar bill was introduced in the 2007 legislative session, but failed. Two other controversial bills related to pregnancy and abortion have also been filed. HB 44, also authored by Rep. Corte, would require posters to be hung at places that sell the morning after pill. The posters would display the following statement in both English and Spanish: "If you believe that life begins at fertilization, the point where the sperm and egg unite, then you need to know that emergency contraception may either function as a contraceptive to prevent the egg and sperm from uniting or prevent the implantation of your already fertilized egg in your womb. The pharmacist dispensing this drug is required to explain to you how the product may help to prevent your pregnancy." HB 109 relates to the issue of "Choose Life" license plates with proceeds going to a Choose Life account in the general revenue fund.

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