Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1599-B is enacted to read:

§1599-B.__Abortion facility

1.__Rules.__The department shall adopt rules providing for the licensing and inspection of surgical facilities and the health and safety of the patients and employees of surgical facilities.__As used in this section, "surgical facility" means a facility in which 50% or more of the patients annually served by the surgical facility undergo abortions.__The department shall ensure that the rules adopted are consistent with the most recent United States Supreme Court decisions regarding state regulation of abortions.__Rules adopted under this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

2.__Issuance of licenses.__The department may not issue or renew a license to operate a surgical facility if, after inspection, the surgical facility is in noncompliance with rules adopted under subsection 1.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules providing for the licensing and inspection of surgical facilities and the health and safety of the patients and employees of surgical facilities in which 50% or more of the patients annually served undergo abortions. The rules must be consistent with the most recent United States Supreme Court decisions regarding state regulation of abortions.