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Friday, March 14, 2008                                                                     Derrick Jones, (202) 626-8825
                                                                                                      mediarelations@nrlc.org     

SOUTH DAKOTA MAKES 12
Governor Rounds signs ultrasound bill

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signed SB88 which requires that abortion facilities provide a woman seeking an abortion be given the opportunity to see an ultrasound of her unborn child before having the abortion.  South Dakota becomes the twelfth state to enact such legislation.

"South Dakotans understand that mothers need as much information as possible before making the life and death decision of abortion for her unborn child," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., National Right to Life State Legislative Director.  "This bill is reflective of a national trend that recognizes the ability of ultrasound technology to provide mothers with the opportunity to see the development of their unborn child in real-time."

The full text of the South Dakota legislation is available at: http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2008/Bills/SB88ENR.htm

There are currently eleven other states which make similar provisions for an abortionist to offer a woman the opportunity to view an ultrasound image of her unborn child.  Mississippi, Idaho, and Georgia all enacted similar laws last year.  The other seven states are Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin.

Louisiana requires that, for abortions at twenty or more weeks gestation, an ultrasound be performed and that the woman be offered the opportunity to view the image.

"The abortion decision is one which cannot be undone and women deserve to have all the facts," Balch added.  "We continue to urge other states to join in this trend and protect women and their unborn children."

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide.  National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.