LRC’s Capitol Notes: Bill would add
ultrasound to informed consent process

From Kentucky Legislative Research commission

Tuesday, Feb. 14

A bill that would require a woman seeking an abortion to have an obstetric ultrasound prior to the procedure was approved by the Senate with a 32-4 vote.

Senate Bill 103, sponsored by Sen. Joe Bowen, R-Owensboro, and Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Erlanger, would add an ultrasound to the informed consent process currently required before an abortion is performed.  Under the provisions of the bill, the woman could choose not to look at the images, but a physician would still be required to explain them to her or face penalties.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

Buggy bill clears House committee

The triangular, orange safety emblem used to make tractors, horse drawn buggies and other slow vehicles visible to motorists could be swapped for colorless reflective tape under a bill that cleared a House committee.

House Bill 133, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Bell, D-Glasgow, passed the House Transportation Committee and now goes to the full House for consideration.

Bell filed the legislation to give Amish motorists an option to using the orange emblem last month, just days before several Amish men were sent to a Western Kentucky jail for refusal to affix the emblem to their buggies. The men say displaying the orange triangular emblem violates their religious beliefs.

Members of the Amish community where the men live reportedly support the use of white or silver reflective tape as a compromise.

If used, the reflective tape would have to cover at least 100 square inches of the rear of a motorless, slow moving vehicle and would have to outline the entire rear of the vehicle, according to the legislation.

Similar legislation has already passed the Kentucky Senate.

The General Assembly and its administrative arm the Legislative Research Commission encourage citizen involvement in the workings of their branch of government, and maintain several means for them to do so.

The Legislature’s website — www.lrc.ky.gov – includes comprehensive information about legislators, the legislative process, and the progress of work during the session. Contact numbers, daily meeting schedules, bill summaries and full texts, bill status information, and other information to get you involved are all posted there.

To leave a message for any legislator: 800-372-7181

To check the status of a bill: 866-840-2835

To check meeting schedules: 800-633-9650

For further information, contact scott.payton@lrc.ky.gov

The Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (LRC) was created in 1948 as a nonpartisan, fact-finding service agency. The commission operates as the administrative and research arm of the General Assembly. LRC provides these regular news updates during the annual Kentucky legislative sessions.