The Virginia General Assembly voted last Thursday to pass a bill that critics fear could shut down as many as 17 of the 21 abortion clinics in the state. The bill would classify clinics that perform more than five first-trimester abortions per month as hospitals rather than doctor's offices, leading to stricter regulations for the medical practices.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has confirmed that he will sign the bill. Once enacted July 1, the mandate will give the Virginia Board of Health a span of 280 days to discuss and write the new policies. The bill's passage will make Virginia the first state in the nation to regulate clinics that provide first-trimester abortions.
"There has been no state ... that has adopted legislation of this nature which would require first-trimester abortions to be performed in a hospital." Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, said to the Assembly.
Proponents of the bill point to the potential benefits of new regulations.
"Virginia's abortion centers have no oversight," said Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia.
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