The “Born Alive Bill” (Born Alive Infant Protection Act), which was vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear in April, passed in the Kentucky Senate Thursday afternoon.
Senate Bill 9, which Senator Whitney Westerfield sponsored, would mandate that hospitals provide medical care for an infant “born alive” to preserve their life.
Westerfield told the News Edge he was thrilled to get approval from the Senate after Beshear’s veto.
The bill passed with a 32-4 vote and is headed to the state House of Representatives, where Westerfield thinks it will be approved later this week and put back on Governor Beshear’s desk for a signature into law.
Westerfield said if another veto comes from the governor, he thinks the support is there to override it.
If the law is passed, those who do not provide care to a child that is “born alive” could lose their medical provider’s license and face felony charges.
Westerfield said Governor Beshear provided a three-sentence explanation with his veto last year. Westerfield added the short explanation catered to the pro-abortion lobby that backs his campaign.
Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, applauded Beshear for the veto and again opposed the bill earlier this week.
