Apr 7, 6:06 PM EDT
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A bill requiring women in Nebraska to get mental-health screenings before having abortions steamrolled its opposition on Wednesday, virtually guaranteeing its final passage in the next several days.
National observers say they have never seen such a measure, and it's expected to be challenged in court. Opponents say the measure is meant as a barrier to women legally ending their pregnancies, while supporters say it could help prevent medical problems afterward and would put the pre-abortion reviews in line with those used in other medical procedures.
"Why would we want standards of care for abortions to be less than other medical procedures?" said Sen. Cap Dierks of Ewing, who introduced the bill.
Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, who opposes the measure, reeled off a list of warnings and information that abortion providers already have to give to women under existing law, including some of the dangers of the procedure.
"We do not need an additional layer on top of that," she said.
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