Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

No licensing for abortion clinics (veto)

Published (5/25/2012)
By Sue Hegarty
Share on: 



Abortion clinics will not be subject to Department of Health licensing and inspection requirements as proposed in legislation vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville) and Sen. Claire Robling (R-Jordan) would have required a clinic or health center that performs at least 10 abortions a month to be licensed and inspected by the department.

Opponents said the bill would have held clinics where pregnancies are terminated to a different standard than other types of clinics that don’t require licensing and inspection, such as clinics where gall bladders and cataracts are removed.

In his veto letter, Dayton said he was advised by the department that the method of licensure was “inappropriate and unworkable.”

Under the bill, inspections would not have required advance notice and could have been conducted once or twice a year per facility.

“The six abortion clinics in Minnesota affected by the legislation are members of the National Abortion Federation, which sets clinical policy standards for performing abortions and inspects every member about every five years for the following standards: infection control, sonography, analgesia and sedation, antibiotics use, complications and emergencies. A lack of oversight of clinics that provide abortions is not an issue,” Dayton wrote.

HF2340/ SF1921*/CH233

Session Weekly More...


Session Weekly Home



Related Stories


A positive balance
Omnibus health care law focuses on reform, restoring cuts and delaying pending cuts
(view full story) Published 5/25/2012

Looking out for children and families
Law offers new safe haven option for newborns; addresses adoption and child safety
(view full story) Published 5/25/2012

Caring for those who care for others
Omnibus health and human services bill remains a moving target
(view full story) Published 3/30/2012

Nursing home funding models
Should residents who can afford to, pay more?
(view full story) Published 3/23/2012

Minnesota Index: Smoking in the state
Facts and statistics on tobacco use in Minnesota
(view full story) Published 3/16/2012

Reform measures draw support
Health and human services reductions draw sharp DFL rebuke
(view full story) Published 8/11/2011

Delivery of health and human services
Governor says proposal puts too many people in health care jeopardy
(view full story) Published 7/15/2011

Surgical precision
HHS budget — end-of-session sticking point
(view full story) Published 5/20/2011

Advocating for patients and constituents
Nurses as legislators add their perspective to health care issues
(view full story) Published 5/13/2011

Aiming for reform
House approves omnibus health and human services finance bill
(view full story) Published 4/8/2011

Omnibus game and fish bill approved
Deer hunting, two-line fishing provisions push people’s buttons
(view full story) Published 4/8/2011

Care for underserved communities
Community paramedic program is a ‘first of its kind’ proponents say
(view full story) Published 4/8/2011

A hand up in climb out of poverty
Bipartisan initiative looks to fund expansion of ‘Circles of Support’ program
(view full story) Published 4/1/2011

Feature: A healthier Minnesota
Long-term savings the goal of statewide improvement plan
(view full story) Published 2/4/2011

At Issue: No access for all
Report says more oversight needed of state-funded non-emergency transportation
(view full story) Published 2/4/2011