MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday will debate HB 314, the bill sponsored by State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) that is aimed at getting the U.S. Supreme Court to re-examine Roe v. Wade on the basis of personhood.
The bill as passed by the House last week only would have banned all abortion except when the life of the mother is in danger. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday tacked on an amendment by State Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) adding exceptions for rape and incest. The full Senate will have to approve that amendment on the floor if it is to stay attached to the bill.
Collins and State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville), who is carrying the bill in the Senate, argued that adding exceptions for rape and incest takes away from the legal challenge the bill is trying to mount, as the question at hand is whether the baby in the womb is a person and should have rights as such, regardless of how that baby was conceived. An attempt at removing the Whatley amendment is expected.
Watch the debate live:
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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