Arkansas Abortion Bill 2021: Gov. Signs Legislation Banning Nearly All Abortions In State – By Danielle Ong (IB Times) / Mar 9 2021
KEY POINTS
- Hutchinson signed a bill that enacts a near-total ban on abortion
- The procedure can only be performed to save the life of a pregnant woman
- The abortion law will go into effect 91 days after May 3
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday signed into law a bill that bans nearly all abortions in the state, a move that could challenge the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade 1973 ruling.
The new legislation, referred to as SB6, bans medical providers from performing abortion procedures unless they are done to save the life of a pregnant woman in an emergency. The law does not make exceptions for victims of rape, incest or fetal anomalies.
People found violating the Arkansas abortion law could face a fine of up to $100,000. They could also serve prison sentences of up to 10 years.
“I will sign SB6 because of overwhelming legislative support and my sincere and long-held pro-life convictions,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “SB6 is in contradiction of binding precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is the intent of the legislation to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law.”
