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South Dakota Pro-Life House Bill 1217 (last updated 8/5/11)
To read an urgent message from Leslee Unruh, Founder of the Alpha Center, CLICK HERE!
To read an urgent message from Harold Cassidy, Legal Counsel for the Alpha Center, about why your support is needed now, CLICK HERE!
To read excerpts from depositions filed in support of pro life House Bill 1217 by women who were coerced to have an abortion and the last South Dakota Abortionist, CLICK HERE! These excerpts show why House Bill 1217 is absolutely necessary to protect women from coerced abortion.
For talking points to help you better understand House Bill 1217, CLICK HERE!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Floro
Phone: 605-361-3500
Email: info@alphacenter.org
Website: www.alphacenter.org
The proceeding today in the Federal District Court is the beginning of what is likely to be a long court battle. Whether or not the District Court determines to preserve the status quo by entry of a preliminary injunction - which is the normal course in abortion litigation of this kind - the case is just starting.
We have every confidence that the State shall ultimately prevail on all of the material provisions of the statute. It shall prevail because the statute is designed to protect the constitutional rights of pregnant mothers in their fundamental interest in their relationship with their children.
The unhappy reality is that many, if not most, women are subjected to forms of coercion that result in many women losing children they would prefer to keep and raise. The mother's right to keep and raise her child is of such paramount importance that the legislature found it necessary to give precedence to protection of the mother's fundamental interest in her relationship with her child over the method of terminating that relationship by an abortion.
Until now, abortion, in our judgment, and in that of the legislature, has been given undue precedence over the mother's sacred relationship with her child. This law does not prohibit abortion at all. Rather it attempts to give balance to the decision making process to guard against coercion and lack of information. It protects the mother's rights, it does not interfere with them.
Abortion, as it has been practiced in South Dakota, has been more than an undue burden on the pregnant mother's fundamental right to her relationship with her child: it has been the destruction of that right, often against a mother's wishes when she wants her child.
We have every confidence that the courts will uphold this important attempt by South Dakota to protect the constitutional rights of the pregnant mother.
Located at 801 East 41st Street, the Alpha Center is a non-profit agency that provides a full range of services to women and men involved in an unplanned pregnancy and has served the area for since 1984. Our goal is to provide positive alternatives to abortion with practical support.
To make a donation to the Alpha Center, click here!
Or send donations to:
Alpha Center
801 E. 41st Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 361-3500
info@alphacenter.org
www.alphacenterevents.org
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Planned Parenthood sues the state over pro-life House Bill 1217. Below is the Alpha Center's statement to this lawsuit.
STATEMENT OF ALPHA CENTER
SIOUX FALLS
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011
Re: Lawsuit Filed by Planned Parenthood
Attacking South Dakota House Bill 1217
Planned Parenthood filed its anticipated lawsuit today, which attacks South Dakota’s new law (HB 1217) designed to protect pregnant mothers against coercion and the negligence and dereliction of Planned Parenthood. Alpha Center today has forwarded the necessary paperwork to the Department of Health to register as a Pregnancy Help Center under HB 1217. The law recognizes the important role Pregnancy Help Centers play in protecting the constitutional rights of pregnant mothers.
The South Dakota Law represents remedial legislation necessary to protect the constitutional rights of pregnant mothers against the bad practices and dereliction of abortion providers.
Alpha Center has established procedures and policies for the 1217 clients and has instructed its attorneys to prepare papers to file with the Federal District Court on behalf of Alpha Center to intervene in the case in a similar manner to its intervention in Planned Parenthood v. Rounds involving South Dakota’s 2005 Informed Consent Statute. We have every confidence that the law will be upheld as a proper and necessary state action to protect the fundamental rights of pregnant mothers. The State Legislature recognized that many women lose children they prefer to keep and raise. The magnitude of their loss for the rest of their lives counsels for better protection of the rights of those mothers.
Alpha Center, together with other Pregnancy Help Centers, will schedule a press conference sometime in the next couple of weeks to make its plans known.
In connection with today’s filing, all press inquires should be directed to our attorneys:
Harold J. Cassidy, Esq.
The Cassidy Law Firm
732-747-3999
732-757-5570
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CLICK HERE to read recent news announcements on HB 1217.
CLICK HERE to read Facts and Fiction about HB 1217.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Floro
Phone: 605-361-3500
Email: info@alphacenter.org
Website: www.alphacenterevents.org
Thank You Governor Daugaard for signing pro-life House Bill 1217, which protects women from coerced abortion!
Sioux Falls, SD - The Alpha Center wants to thank Governor Daugaard for signing this very important legislation to protect the women of South Dakota. House Bill 1217 is written to stop coerced abortion, which happens more frequently than anyone realizes. National statistics show that 64% of women are coerced to have an abortion. According to Alpha Center Founder, Leslee Unruh, "Just one woman being coerced to have an abortion is too many."
House Bill 1217 raises the standard of care for abortion to match that of other surgical procedures by requiring a history and examination of the patient by the doctor performing the abortion. With a required 72 hour waiting period and a visit to a Pregnancy Help Center, it allows women an opportunity to make an informed choice by learning what resources are available to her should she choose to maintain a relationship with her child rather than only hearing about abortion, as is common now. This process will help protect women from making a decision out of fear, panic or under duress as is the case in many abortion decisions.
Upon signing of this law, Leslee Unruh, on behalf of women who've been hurt by abortion said, "Women will be better informed and safer."
If there is a legal challenge to House Bill 1217, it will be healthy for the people of this state and throughout the nation to gain a better understanding of the consequences of abortion on women and how and why so many abortions occur. Alpha Center Founder, Dr. Allen Unruh, says, "This is a debate that goes right to the heart of the Declaration of Independence that guarantees every person the INALIENABLE (GOD-GIVEN) right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Alpha Center welcomes any opportunity to debate this important issue in the public forum."
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Your Help is Still Needed!
Your urgent help is still needed for pro life House Bill 1217. Help prove to Governor Daugaard that funds will be available to litigate HB 1217 should an opposing organization sue the state. Are there 2500 Christian people out there willing to send $100 to the South Dakota Pro-Life Litigation Sub Fund? Please, show your support - any amount will help! Donations can be sent to: Life Protection Sub Fund, 320 N. Nicollet, c/o 500 East Capitol Ave, Pierre SD, 57501 - Point of Contact, Paul Kinsman, Commissioner, Bureau of Administration.
HB 1217 passed the Senate by a vote of 21 to 13 with 1 excused and passed the House with a vote of 49 to 13. Numerous attempts to ammend the bill were made but the bill was passed intact! Please thank all the Senators and Representatives who voted yes on this bill! Please contact the Governor and ask him to sign this bill into law. Thank you for all your calls to the legislature in support of this bill!
To view this bill, CLICK HERE.
For a list South Dakota Representatives who voted yes on HB 1217, CLICK HERE.
To thank the Representatives who voted yes on HB 1217, CLICK HERE.
For a list of South Dakota Senators who voted yes on HB 1217, CLICK HERE.
To thank the Senators who voted yes on HB 1217, CLICK HERE.
Talking Points on HB 1217:
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This Bill is a logical extension of the 2005 SD 1166 Informed Consent Bill.
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It is focused on preventing a major problem that is now undeniable: most abortions are the product of some level of coersion, that the physician does not do a proper assessment to determine the woman's circumstances and whether she is being coerced, and whether she really wants her child.
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Here is what the Bill requires:
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Only a physician can schedule a surgical or medical abortion and only after the doctor has met with the pregnant mother, has done an assessment, and has determined that there is no coersion;
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The doctor cannot schedule the abortion in less than 72 hours after the initial consultation and assessment by the physician;
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The woman must be referred to a Pregnancy Help Center after the initial assessment and before an abortion can be performed. The Pregnancy Help Center provides the mother with all the information available on what services and financial help are available to help her keep and raise her child. The Act defines Pregnancy Help Centers and they cannot perform abortions or refer women for an abortion;
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If after the woman meets with the Pregnancy Help Center she decides to give up her rights and have the abortion, the doctor can proceed as long as the woman provides the date, place, center and name of person who counseled her at the Pregnancy Help Center;
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The physician cannot take a signed consent until the day of the scheduled abortion and only after complying with all informed consent requirements;
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The Bill also requires screening for risk factors and disclosure of the risk factors; and
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The Bill sets up certain presumptions in a cause of action where the mother sues the physician for failure to comply with the law.
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