Montana Restricts Abortion House Gives Final Approval To 24-Hour Waiting Period

The House gave final approval Thursday to a bill requiring a woman to wait 24 hours before obtaining an abortion.

The measure passed 54-42 and was returned to the Senate for review of changes made by the House.

Senate Bill 292 would require doctors to provide state-supplied information about the abortion procedure and its potential impacts. The material also would have to discuss ramifications of carrying a pregnancy to term and giving up a child for adoption.

Two Republican legislators - Charles Devaney of Plentywood and Sam Rose of Choteau - changed their positions on the bill from the 56-42 preliminary vote taken Tuesday.

Devaney said he became a supporter Thursday after GOP women convinced him the bill was more about women’s health than abortion.

Asked what prompted him to change his mind and oppose the bill Thursday, Rose said, “Nothing really. I had some opportunity to think it over. I’m not very comfortable with this.”

Two other representatives - Democrat Pat Galvin of Great Falls and Republican Ed Grady of Canyon Creek - did not vote on SB292 either time even though they were present.

“I’m betwixt and between,” Galvin said. “I’m pro-life and it’s none of my business to tell a woman what to do.”

Grady explained his position this way: “I don’t think those type of bills have any right being up here. I don’t want to take a position pro or con.”

If the House version of the bill is approved by the Senate, probably by early next week, the measure will be sent to Gov. Marc Racicot. He has said he likes the idea embodied in the bill.

A related measure, which would require a parent or guardian of an underage girl to be notified before she can obtain an abortion, awaits approval of Senate amendments.