Va. Senate panel OKs requiring ultrasound before abortion

By Michael Sluss

RICHMOND

A Senate committee that was overhauled after last year’s election advanced legislation this morning that would require pregnant women to undergo ultrasound imaging before having an abortion, a breakthrough for abortion opponents who have supported the requirement for years.

On a party-line vote of 8-7, the Republican-controlled Senate Education and Health Committee endorsed the legislation and sent it to the full Senate. An identical bill is pending in the House of Delegates, which has passed similar bills in previous years only to have them killed by a Democratic-controlled Senate committee. Republicans gained a majority on the committee after taking organizational control of the Senate earlier this month.

Senate Bill 484 would require a pregnant woman to undergo ultrasound imaging to determine the gestation age of the fetus and be given an opportunity to view the ultrasound image before having an abortion. Supporters of the bill said the ultrasound requirement merely expands the state’s existing “informed consent” law for abortion procedures. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier County, and incorporates an identical measure sponsored by Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Roanoke County.

Opponents said the bill would subject women to an unnecessary and intrusive procedure and pose another barrier to having an abortion procedure.

“The intent of this bill – hell, it’s so damn obvious Ray Charles can see through this,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax County, the senior Democrat on the panel.

This could be the second consecutive legislation session in which abortion opponents gain a major victory. Last year, the General Assembly passed legislation requiring the state to regulate abortion clinics like hospitals. Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration has approved emergency regulations and the state Board of Health will hold a public hearing Friday in Richmond on permanent clinic regulations.