Committees approve abortion, anti-bullying measures
Last Modified: Sunday, May 20, 2012 7:00 PM
By John Guidroz / American Press
BATON ROUGE — The House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday approved a measure that would let pregnant women choose to hear a baby’s heartbeat before going through with an abortion, despite concerns that it is overreaching.
Under Senate Bill 708, by Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge, women could hear the fetal heartbeat unless they sign an “opt-out form.” The bill — which was approved with several amendments — heads to the full House for consideration. It passed in the Senate last month with a 34-4 vote.
Broome said the legislation “is empowering for women,” and gives them the option to think about an abortion before going through with it. The bill gives women a 24-hour waiting period before having an abortion, which she said is normal for other medical procedures.
“It ensures that all women are treated equally,” Broome said.
Jackie Hawkins, a constituent who lives in Broome’s district, opposed the measure. She said it is an attempt “to kill the mother’s spirit in hopes she will not abort the fetus.”
“It is bordering on emotional abuse and physical battery of the mother,” Hawkins said. “No woman seeking an abortion would want these sounds replayed in her head every day.”
Hawkins said the 24-hour waiting period was unnecessary for an abortion. “If she has made the decision to terminate the pregnancy, trust me, she has weighed all of her options,” she said.
In the Senate, the Health and Welfare Committee approved a measure by Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, that would ban abortions 20 weeks after a woman’s egg is fertilized, except when a mother’s life is at risk. He said the 20-week mark was put in the bill because fetuses can feel pain by that time. Doctors who violate the measure could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.
The committee also voted 3-2 to approve a resolution asking Congress to defund and appropriate no future funding to Planned Parenthood. Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe, spoke about House Concurrent Resolution 11, saying it was anti-abortion, and that some lawmakers would not agree with it. The House voted 64-23 last month to approve the resolution.
Voting for the resolution were Sens. R.L. “Bret” Allain, R-Franklin, Dale Erdey, R-Livingston, and Fred Mills, R-New Iberia.
Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb, D-Baton Rouge, and Sen. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, opposed the resolution.
Both measures head to the full Senate for consideration.
Anti-bullying measures move forward
Lawmakers approved two anti-bullying measures on Wednesday which differ in regards to the type of training school
officials receive and the length of time before bullying is reported. Smith said bullying should be addressed
the first time it happens, which is addressed in her bill. It calls for
school principals
to investigate each incident the day after it is reported. The
investigation should be finished after “no later than 10 school
days.” “That’s how you change culture in a school setting, by saying to children, “This is not something we do,’” she said. Michelle Ghetti, a professor at Southern University Law Center, said one incident should not be considered bullying. “You don’t want one kid making a face at someone one time to be bullying,” she said. “When it’s done repeatedly is when it
rises to the level of bullying.” Under Ward’s bill, the parents of a
student can enroll him or her in another school after four instances of
bullying are reported. Ward’s bill also contains a provision stating that a student’s right to free speech should not be affected by a ban on bullying.
Smith opposed the provision, saying it “gives the opportunity for kids to continue bullying.” Ward’s bill heads to the full House for consideration. The Senate voted 33-0 on the bill last week. Smith said her bill is tougher on
bullying because of the extensive training and because school officials
must report an incident
the first time it happens, instead of reporting after it happens
several times. Smith said she has worked with 20 organizations to organize the bill. “He worked with Family Forum,” she said. “You ought to be able to take more than one group whose objectives are what they
are. But people in the trenches ought to be able to give you better information on what they’re dealing with.” Southwest Louisiana lawmakers voting
for Smith’s bill were House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles,
James Armes, D-Leesville,
Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur, A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles, Dorothy
Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek, Frank Howard, R-Many, Rep. John Guinn, R-Jennings, opposed the bill. Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Moss Bluff, and Rep. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, did not cast a vote. The measure heads to the Senate for consideration.
The House Education Committee approved Senate Bill 764 by Sen. Rick Ward III, D-Port Allen, and the full House voted 73-16
in favor of House Bill 1214 by Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge.
Under Ward’s measure, local school districts would have to adopt anti-bullying policies. Smith, who sits on the House Education
Committee, said that would not be effective. Her bill calls for the state Department of Education to come up with a policy
that school officials can use to help prevent bullying.
Ward’s measure calls for all school employees to take at least four hours of training each year on how to identify bullying
and stop it from happening. Repeated instances of bullying would be reported to a school principal.
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