The Arizona House of Representatives has approved a bill that would allow health officials to conduct unannounced inspections at abortion clinics.
House Bill 2284 would, among other things, allow inspectors to go into the state’s abortion clinics without a warrant.
Supporters say this would bring those facilities into line with other health care facilities and that the measure would protect women’s health. But, critics call the bill a slap in the face to women and say it would waste taxpayer money on lawsuits. That is because a federal appeals court in 2004 ruled a similar measure unconstitutional, on the grounds that it violated the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
The bill is backed by the Center for Arizona Policy, which was also behind SB1062, the religious freedom bill the governor vetoed last week. Tuesday’s 34 to 22 vote was mainly along party lines and sends the bill to the state Senate.
