West Virginia governor signs bill into law banning abortion with few exceptions
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced Friday that he had signed a bill into law that prohibits nearly all abortions except in certain medical situations or in cases of rape or incest.
The GOP-led legislature passed House Bill 302 on Tuesday in a special session, making West Virginia the second state to pass a restrictive abortion bill after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
The ban goes into effect immediately, with the bill’s criminal penalties to take effect in 90 days.
HB 302 allows exceptions for cases of rape or incest up to eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and the first 14 weeks of pregnancy for minors. The incident will need to be reported to law enforcement at least 48 hours before the abortion.
It also allows exceptions if the embryo or fetus is nonviable, a medical emergency exists or an ectopic pregnancy, a rare event in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and cannot survive.
“I’ve done exactly what I said I would do – I’ve signed it,” Justice, a Republican, said at a news conference Friday morning.
Justice said he’s “proud that I signed it and I believe wholeheartedly that it does one thing that is absolutely so important – it does protect life.”
http://www.cnn.com/2022/09/16/politics/west-virginia-governor-signs-abortion-bill/index.html
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