Lafayette Planned Parenthood gets waiver for nonsurgical abortions

Here’s a breakdown of what’s happened with the law and what it means for the clinic.

History of the law

In 2013, the law was introduced as Senate Enrolled Act 371. The law would have required the Lafayette Planned Parenthood to meet the same standards as a surgical abortion clinic, even though the clinic does not offer surgical abortions. The clinic offers only the abortion pill, RU-486. Planned Parenthood, with the American Civil Liberties Union, brought a lawsuit against the state in response.

In 2014, the U.S. District Court ruled that law was unconstitutional because it singled out the Lafayette Planned Parenthood facility and excluded private physician’s offices from those requirements. The law also prohibited health departments from providing waivers to clinics for certain structural requirements, such as procedure, recovery and scrub rooms.

In 2015, Senate Bill 546 passed with amendments to satisfy the judge’s ruling. The law went into effect Wednesday.

Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, sponsored the bill.