Arizona abortion providers must now tell the state what happens to tissue from abortions in an effort to ensure nothing is being illegally sold.
The rule stems from videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood employees discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Sales for profit violate federal law, though abortion providers can cover costs. None of those videos came from Arizona, and there is no evidence anyone in Arizona is breaking any laws.
Planned Parenthood Arizona President Bryan Howard has said his organization does not transfer any fetal tissue to anyone.
But that did not stop Gov. Doug Ducey from directing Cara Christ, state health director, to craft emergency rules to require abortion providers to report what happens to the tissue from what the agency calls "unborn children."
Those rules were filed late Friday, without public comment or input, and are now in effect.
Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Annet Ruiter said Monday that Howard was traveling on business and unavailable for comment.
"As an organization, we need to carefully review these rules and determine their impact on our delivery of abortion health care. We will determine whether to provide comment when our review is complete," said Ruiter.
In enacting the emergency rules, health officials acknowledged they have no evidence of law breaking in Arizona. But they said the rules were justified because of "the potential illegal sale of tissues from aborted children."
The emergency rules are good for 180 days, with the opportunity for one renewal. At that time, Christ would need to have a regular rule in place, complete with the opportunity for public input and comment.