The law designates facilities performing second- or third-trimester abortions or more than five first-trimester abortions each month as "ambulatory surgical centers," which are subject to increased regulation from the state Department of Health and Senior Services. It also requires that hallways at the facilities be at least six feet wide and doors at least 44 inches wide. The clinics must also have separate male and female changing rooms for staff and a recovery room with space for a minimum of four beds with three feet of clearance around each bed.
The health department has said the law requires that three clinics in the state be licensed. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri last month filed a lawsuit that asks a federal court to block enforcement of the law. The suit alleges that the new regulations are unnecessary and are not meant to improve safety, but rather to interfere with a woman's constitutional right to abortion.
PPKM in the suit also is asking that its Columbia and Kansas City clinics be exempt from the law because they were open before the law was passed. Smith last month issued a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the law, which was scheduled to take effect Aug. The law designates facilities performing second- or third-trimester abortions or more than five first-trimester abortions each month as "ambulatory surgical centers," which are subject to increased regulation from the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
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