Two anti-abortion legislators have asked Gov. Mark Dayton to sign a bill that requires abortion clinics to pay an annual license fee and face regular inspections.
Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan, and Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, the bill sponsors, said the bill "does not limit access to abortion," but attempts to ensure that abortion clinics follow the same safety measures that apply to outpatient surgical centers.
The bill, given final approval in the two houses last week, is a key goal of the state's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.
It applies to all clinics that perform 10 or more abortions per month. These facilities would be charged an annual licensing fee of $3.712, and would be subject to a misdemeanor if they did not obtain a license. They would also be subject to comprehensive inspections and the possibility of having the license suspended or revoked.
"We believe that abortion is an invasive, surgical procedure that can lead to numerous and serious medical complications," Robling and Hoberg wrote in their letter to the governor.
Dayton,a supporter of abortion rights, has not announced his decision on the bill.
