Big Idea

• The existing law in Arizona requires parental consent
• In the current law, no one may coerce or intimidate a woman into having an abortion
• Currently, all abortion clinics must be licensed and all medical doctors performing abortion must have admitting privileges
• At this time, State taxpayer funds may not be used for abortions
• The “Arizona Abortion Access Act” is silent on all of these safety standards currently in the AZ law, and more
• Read more...

The Democrats, Planned Parenthood, and the ACLU are pushing a Constitutional Amendment (CA) towards the AZ Nov. 2024 ballot that would codify a “fundamental right to abortion” into Arizona law if enough signatures are gathered by July, 2024, and the CA makes it to the Nov. ballot. The odds of overturning an AZ Constitutional Amendment, if enacted, are slim to none.

The CA “language” is only one and one half pages long and is entitled, “Arizona Abortion Access Act”.

It says that a “fundamental right to abortion” precludes anyone from denying, restricting or interfering with an abortion even after “fetal viability” (the ability of a baby to survive outside the womb without artificial means, or approximately 24 weeks.) if the treating Health Care Professional (who is that?) determines is necessary to protect the life, physical, or “mental health” (what is that?) of the pregnant individual (not woman?). A “fundamental right’’ means that the law may not penalize any person (such as sex traffickers, coaches or school nurses) or entity for aiding or assisting a “pregnant person” from getting an abortion.

Arizona existing abortion law:

• The existing law in Arizona requires parental consent for any minor seeking an abortion
• Informed consent is required 24 hours in advance of an abortion, an ultrasound is required 24 hours in advance (including the opportunity to hear the babies’ heartbeat)
• No one may coerce or intimidate a woman into having an abortion
• Partial birth abortions (doctor delivers a substantial portion of the living child outside of the mother, then ends the child’s life by crushing his/her skull or using brain suction), are prohibited
• Abortions must be performed within the first 15 weeks unless they are performed as a result of a medical emergency
• Abortions may not be performed solely on the basis of a diagnosis of a genetic abnormality
• No abortion may be performed on a viable fetus unless it is to save the physical life of the mother
• If an abortion is performed and the baby is determined to be alive, every effort must be made to save the life of the baby
• No abortion may be performed based solely on race or gender
• No research experimentation or trafficking of aborted baby parts is allowed
• All abortion clinics must be licensed and all medical doctors performing abortion must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic
• Doctors may not use webcam in lieu of a personal visit with the patient
• No Telemedicine abortions may be performed nor may Nurse Practitioners or Physicians Assistants perform abortions (medical doctors only),
• If the woman seeking abortion is a crime victim, she has the right to report the crime to law enforcement
• No hospital or health care worker can be required to perform any abortion if it goes against their religious beliefs (they may not be fired as a result of their position)
• Strict and extensive reporting requirements exist for abortion clinics to protect the professionalism of the clinics and to protect the safety of patients
• State taxpayer funds may not be used for abortions unless it is to save the life of the mother
• No abortion shall be performed under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents (colleges and universities) unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother
• County Health Services District Facilities may not provide abortions
• Abortion providers are disqualified for the Charitable Tax Credit...and more

The “Arizona Abortion Access Act” is silent on all of the safety standards currently in the AZ law; it would overturn them if passed.

All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of CopperState News.