New Texas abortion rules will require fetuses to have a burial service or be cremated rather than be disposed of in landfills, which is the current process.
The Health and Human Services Commission proposed the new rules to put a stop to the disposal of fetal remains — regardless of the period of gestation — by “third-party special waste disposal services” and to require hospitals and abortion clinics to either cremate the remains or bury them, according to the Texas Tribune.
“The Health and Human Services Commission developed new rules to ensure Texas law maintains the highest standards of human dignity,” said health commission spokesman Bryan Black.
The state won't be paying for the cremations or burial services, meaning an abortion could cost as much as $2,000 more, said the Austin Chronicle.
The new rules are set to go into effect on Dec. 19. They were published in the Texas Register back in July, allowing a 30-day public comment period, The Tribune noted.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would like to see lawmakers implement the new abortion rules as law, according to his spokeswoman Ciara Matthews.
“Governor Abbott believes human and fetal remains should not be treated like medical waste, and the proposed rule changes affirms the value and dignity of all life.”
“I believe it is imperative to establish higher standards that reflect our respect for the sanctity of life,” Abbott said in an email over the summer.
Pro-abortion activists, medical professionals, and reproductive rights lawyers aren't happy with the new rules. The Center for Reproductive Rights says the rules are “unconstitutional,” as they place an “undue burden” on abortion patients.
Texas has a reputation as being a difficult state for abortions. There are less than 20 abortion clinics in the state, and the process can be lengthy. Women seeking an abortion must have an ultrasound beforehand and are required to wait at least 24 hours before undergoing the procedure.
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