Bill would ban abortion after six weeks, before most people even know they are pregnant, and places a bounty on a person who “aids and abets” an abortion.
Sioux Falls, SD — Today, Governor Kristi Noem introduced a Texas-style abortion ban, that prohibits abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and turns citizens into enforcers of the law by placing a bounty on anyone who helps someone get an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The bill is a copycat of a similar law that went into effect in Texas, S.B. 8, this fall.
“Make no mistake — abortion is safe and legal today in South Dakota,” said Kristin Hayward, Manager of Advocacy and Development for Planned Parenthood South Dakota Action Fund. “Gov. Noem’s Texas-style abortion ban is cruel and hurtful. South Dakota politicians not only want to ban abortion, but they also want to turn citizens into bounty hunters. South Dakotans do not want this bill in our state, and people are mobilizing to fight against it.”
Since S.B. 8 first went into effect on September 1, Planned Parenthood health centers in surrounding states saw a 1,082 percent increase in patients with Texas zip codes seeking abortion, compared to September 2020 and 2019. Patients have traveled from Texas to Arkansas, California, and as far as New York for health care. This law sows chaos and confusion and interferes with health care providers’ ability to deliver safe, evidence-based care to patients at all times.
Health care providers are compassionate, skilled medical professionals who should be able to do the job they were trained to do without hesitation — including providing both abortion and miscarriage care.
###
Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
Tags: