capitol mug dec 1.jpg

(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

A proposal to place the right to life of the unborn in the Alabama Constitution is a step away from going to voters for approval.

The Senate Health Committee approved the proposed constitutional amendment on an 8-2 vote. It moves to the Senate.

If approved by at least 21 of the 35 senators, it would go to voters in a statewide referendum.

The Alabama amendment would come into play if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

The sponsor is Rep. Matt Fridy, R-Montevallo.

The amendment says:

"The state acknowledges, declares and affirms that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.

"The state further acknowledges, declares and affirms that is the public policy of this state to ensure the protection of the rights of the unborn child, including the right to life."

The committee approved the amendment by a vote of 8-2. Voting against it were Sens. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, and Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham.

The committee approved three other bills:

A bill to say that health care provider could refuse to perform certain activities that violate their conscience without risk of being fired, demoted, sued or having their pay cut. The services covered would be abortion, human cloning, human embryonic stem cell research and sterilization.

A bill to ban assisted suicide.

A bill to prohibit the state from refusing to license child adoption agencies because of policies based on religious beliefs, such as not placing children with same-sex couples.

All three bills have passed the House and move to the Senate.

Anti Abortion Amendment by Mike Cason on Scribd