-- A bill to put new regulations on Alabama abortion clinics is on its way to Gov. Robert Bentley's desk.

The House of Representatives shortly before midnight voted 68-21 to agree to a minor Senate amendment and send the bill on to Bentley.

Proponents of

the bill said the new regulations -- which include that doctors who perform abortions must have admitting privileges at a local hospital -- are needed to protect women's health. But opponents charged the legislation is a backdoor attempt to shut down the state's five abortion clinics.

“If an abortion clinic is truly dedicated to providing adequate care, ensuring dependable safeguards, and putting patients’ needs before profits, it will embrace this legislation rather than oppose it. I am proud that the state of Alabama is daring to defend the right to life," bill sponsor Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, said in a statement.

The vote came at the end of a long and passionate day that saw the two sides of the abortion debate trying to out shout each other outside the Alabama State House.

Nikema Williams, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, said the true goal of the bill is to "make all abortion illegal and inaccessible in Alabama."

“This bill will cause reproductive health centers to close, reproductive health centers that women count on for a multitude of services,” Williams said.

Williams said she expects an Alabama clinic to challenge the regulations if Bentley signs the bill into law.

The bill, called The Women's Health and Safety Act, would require doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges in the cities where they perform abortions.

Proponents said that is needed in case of complications.

Williams said the Alabama legislation is nearly identical to a bill approved in Mississippi. She said the Mississippi law is threatening to close that state's lone abortion clinic after hospitals refused to grant admitting privileges to their doctor.

The Alabama bill would also require clinics to meet the same building codes as ambulatory surgical centers including that they have doorways and hallways wide enough to transport patients on gurneys.

Under the bill, abortion clinics would also be required to ask any girl under age 16 for the name and age of the person who got her pregnant. If the father is more than two years older, or the girl is younger than 14, the clinic would have to report the incident to authorities.

The Senate approved the bill earlier in the night by a vote of 22-10.

Senators put an amendment on the bill to require abortion clinics to provide to patients at the time of discharge a list of prescription medicines they received while in the clinic. House members agreed to the change.

"This bill is not about safety. This bill is about denying access," Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham, said.

Republicans said the U.S. Supreme Court "unfortunately" allows abortion to remain legal.

"With passage of this much-needed measure, Republicans boldly defended the rights of the unborn and courageously safeguarded the health and safety of Alabama women," Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said.

Staff writer Mike Cason contributed to this report.