Bill Passed to Keep Abortion Clinics 2,000 Feet from Schools

An Alabama House committee has passed a bill to keep abortion clinics at least 2,000 feet away from public schools.

Bill sponsor Sen. Paul Sanford said he wants to protect schoolchildren from the “chaos” of protestors outside abortion facilities. The bill, which passed the Senate in March, will now go to the House for a vote.

The bill will shutter an existing Huntsville facility, which was forced to move to its current location to comply with new facility requirements in 2013.

Sanford previously said he was amenable to an amendment to grandfather the Huntsville clinic in. But the Health Committee on Wednesday tabled an amendment which would do so.

ACLU of Alabama Director Susan Watson says the bill is “outrageous” and vowed to challenge the law in court.

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