La. House Health Committee Backs New Abortion Rules

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A proposal to add new regulations for abortion providers in Louisianahas received the unanimous support of the House health care committee.

The bill by Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat from Monroe, would require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. It's similar to a controversial restriction recently passed in Texas.

Jackson says the proposal would enact "common-sense safety standards" to protect women's health.

Abortion rights supporters say if lawmakers pass the new requirement, it would force the closure of three of Louisiana'sfive abortion clinics — and leave none open south of Shreveport.

The House Health and Welfare Committee advanced the proposal Wednesday without objection. It heads next to the House floor for debate.

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House Bill 388 can be found at www.legis.la.gov