The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee on Friday advanced a bill (SB 1404) that would limit fetal tissue donations, the Boise Weekly reports. According to the Weekly, state lawmakers will now consider amending the bill to resolve "outstanding constitutional concerns."
Bill details
The bill was proposed in response to a series of misleading videos targeting Planned Parenthood's fetal tissue donation program. After the videos were released, Idaho Gov. C.L. Otter (R) said he would not investigate Planned Parenthood because there was no evidence that the group had broken Idaho laws (Prentice, Boise Weekly, 3/18).
The bill would ban the sale, transfer or distribution of fetal tissue resulting from an abortion (SB 1404, accessed 3/21). Sale of fetal tissue is already banned under federal law (Women's Health Policy Report, 3/4).
In addition, the bill would prohibit state universities from performing research using tissue resulting from abortion (SB 1404, accessed 3/21).
Planned Parenthood condemns bill
Hannah Brass Greer, Idaho legislative director and public affairs manager for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, said although the bill had been amended several times, it included "too many inconsistencies and broad and vague language." She stated, "Instead of pushing through this deeply-flawed bill at this late stage of the session, we ask that you hold this bill in committee" (Boise Weekly, 3/18).
