Planned Parenthood is considering its options now that Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) has signed House Bill 1055 – legislation that effectively bans Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from offering sex education and counseling services in Missouri’s public schools.

Michelle Trupiano of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri says the group’s attorneys will have to spend some more time studying the new law to decide whether to launch an appeal.

The new law also makes permanent the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services Program and establishes the Alternatives to Abortion Public Awareness Program to provide services and counseling to pregnant women and assistance to women caring for their children or placing them up for adoption. The organization calls the new law part of "Governor Blunt’s ongoing efforts to intimidate women, to create barriers to reproductive health care, and to shut down Planned Parenthood."