House and Senate committees are considering legislation regarding consent requirements for obtaining abortions. Under both the House and Senate versions of the bill ( HB 1831 & SB 1058 ), abortions could not be performed or induced without the voluntary, informed, and uncoerced consent of the woman at least 24 hours prior to the abortion.

Representative Bob Onder (R-Lake St. Louis), the House sponsor, says the 24 hour requirement is designed to give the woman the opportunity to be fully informed about the procedure and options to that procedure.

The legislation is opposed by Planned Parenthood. Michelle Trupiano, who represents Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri, says safeguards are already in place at all abortion clinics in Missouri, so there is no need for this legislation.

In addition to Planned Parenthood and other abortion-rights organizations, the legislation is also opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU of Eastern Missouri raises free speech concerns because of a component which could make it a crime for a man to engage in certain conversations with a woman involving his desire that she obtain an abortion.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh reports (:60 MP3)