Missouri governor passes bill requiring annual inspections on abortion clinics

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens has passed a wide-ranging pro-life measure that includes a provision that requires abortion clinics to be inspected annually.

Senate Bill 5 was passed by the Missouri Senate by a vote of 22–9 in a special session on July 25. It was signed into law by Greitens on July 26, St. Louis Review reported.

Apart from the annual inspections on abortion clinics, the new law preempts local governments from enacting ordinances that adversely affect legal rights of individuals based on their views on abortion.

The measure also gives the Missouri attorney general greater authority to enforce the state's abortion laws. It also provides whistleblower protections for employees involved with abortion. Additionally, it also requires abortion clinics to develop plans for medical emergencies, and it prohibits abortion clinic workers from instructing first responders not to follow protocol when responding to emergencies at abortion facilities.

"Today is a great victory for pregnancy care centers that help women and children all over the state," Greitens said in a statement. "I'm proud that many of Missouri's lawmakers stood strong to protect the lives of the innocent unborn and women's health," he continued.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson said in a statement that the new law "will save the lives of unborn children, safeguard the health and safety of women, and protect the freedom of pregnancy resource centers to hire whom they choose. Ultimately, the worth of this special session will not be determined by the money spent, but by the number of lives saved, of which we may never have an exact accounting."

Greitens called for a second special session this summer to focus on policies regarding abortion following the passage of a St. Louis ordinance that prohibits organizations and businesses from hiring and firing employees based on "reproductive health decisions or pregnancy status."

A lawsuit challenging the ordinance was filed in May by Our Lady's Inn, St. Louis archdiocesan elementary schools, O'Brien Industrial Holdings LLC and Frank Robert O'Brien. The plaintiffs argued that the ordinance's limited religious exemptions are vague and undefined and do not cover individuals affiliated with organizations that may be exempt.

While the state legislation addresses the city's ordinance regarding anything related to the direct or indirect involvement with abortion, it has not resolved issues regarding hiring practices, real estate and free speech.

The archbishop's statement indicated that the federal lawsuit against the City of St. Louis over the ordinance will continue despite the passage of the legislation, which is set to take effect in late October.