Abortion reporting

The House approved a bill Wednesday to require an abortion clinic to report a rape to law enforcement officials if a patient attempts to abort a pregnancy resulting from the crime.

Senate Bill 463, by Sen. Blake Johnson, R-Corning, would add the reporting requirement to sections of the code dealing with exemptions allowing abortions in cases of rape or incest.

The bill also would add requirements to inspections of abortion clinics by the Health Department.

The bill cleared the Senate last month. The 69-15 vote in the House on Thursday sent the bill to Gov. Asa Hutchinson over the objections of Democrats.

House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough, D-Little Rock, said the bill “disregards victims’ personal needs and desires at an especially vulnerable time” and would subject rape victims to additional trauma.