Cuccinelli won't certify health board's new abortion clinic rules
Source: Roanoke Times, roanoke.com
Cuccinelli won't certify health board's new abortion clinic rules
The board of health's regulations say established clinics do not have to meet the new law's standards.
By Michael Sluss
981-3373
RICHMOND -- Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's office is refusing to certify new regulations for abortion clinics, saying the state board of health exceeded its authority last month when it struck a provision that would require established clinics to meet building and design standards for hospitals.
But Cuccinelli does not have the last word on the issue. That belongs to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who said Monday that his administration is still reviewing the draft regulations the board of health approved last month.
The review process has been closely scrutinized since the General Assembly passed legislation in 2011 requiring the state to classify facilities performing first-trimester abortions as hospitals and to impose new licensing and inspection requirements on providers. Abortion rights advocates have argued that the legislation was designed to limit access to abortion and would require costly upgrades at some facilities and cause some women's health centers to close or discontinue abortion services.
The board of health last month amended draft regulations to effectively grandfather clinics into compliance with the new design and building requirements. At the June 15 meeting, Senior Assistant Attorney General Allyson Tysinger advised the board that its action conflicted with state law and said the attorney general's office was not likely to certify the regulations.
Read more: http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/311654
I think Cuccinelli is enough of a national figure that, though the incident at hand happened in Virginia, it can be thought of as being of national interest.
