Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday signed a bill requiring fetal remains from surgical abortions be cremated or buried, The Associated Press reports.
Senate Bill 27 allows a woman to decide what she wants to do with the remains. If she doesn’t want to choose, the clinic will have to choose for her. The legislation requires abortion clinics to pay for burial or cremation and carries a first-degree misdemeanor penalty if the requirements are not met.
Laurel Powell, director of media relations for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, called the law unnecessary.
“This is honestly just a familiar ploy by these lawmakers who use the chaos of the end of year session to try and pass these unpopular bills,” she said. “Studies have repeatedly shown that the majority of Ohioans support access to safe and legal abortion care.
“This is not something that is intended to promote patient safety or access to care. Really, it’s just another attack,” she added.
The new law is a “vital piece of pro-life legislation,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. “Human life is precious and deserves to be both respected and protected,” he said.
DeWine said his administration is committed to supporting pregnant women.
“I just want to make it very, very clear, our concern is not just for the unborn, our concern is for all individuals who need protection,” he said. “It is our duty, I believe, and an essential function of government, to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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