New Abortion Law Will Not Keep Planned Parenthood Out of Schools

Intro: State health officials and abortion providers are renegotiating provisions of pro-life legislation after a U.S. District judge called for the two sides to compromise. Planned Parenthood says the new law will not stop the educational services they provide to schools. Courtney Cox has more from Jefferson City.

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One provision of the abortion legislation prohibits abortion providers from teaching in Missouri classrooms.

Paula Gianino is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region.

She says the new abortion law will not affect educational services the organization provides to schools.

Actuality: PP2.WAV

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Description: "Well our education staff work for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region, and that corporation for us does not provide abortion services. Our abortion care is only provided through a separate corporation. And all of our education staff work for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region."

Abortion care is provided through the Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood, a different entity from Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region.

Currently, Planned Parenthood works with about forty schools in the St. Louis area.

The organization provides classroom visits as well as voluntary after school programs.

From the state capitol, I'm Courtney Cox.

Intro: Planned Parenthood says educational services they provide to schools will not be affected by anti-abortion legislation brought in front of a U.S. District judge yesterday. Courtney Cox has more from Jefferson City.

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Planned Parenthood provides an extensive sexual health program to more than forty schools in the St. Louis area.

The organization says new laws, prohibiting abortion providers from teaching in Missouri classrooms does not pertain to their after-school programs.

Paula Gianino is the CEO for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region.

Actuality: PP4.WAV

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Description: "The majority of the services we provide are provided after school, through students and parents who voluntarily chose to be a part of these educational programs. And so we are quite convinced that our after-school programs are not involved at all and should not be in any way affected by the new law."

Classroom visits by Planned Parenthood staff will also continue upon invitation from teachers.

From the state capitol, I'm Courtney Cox.

Intro: State health officials and abortion providers are renegotiating provisions of pro-life legislation after a U.S. District judge called for the two sides to compromise yesterday. Courtney Cox has more from the capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

Provisions of abortion legislation call for abortion clinics to be licensed as surgical facilities.

Planned Parenthood has 60 days to obtain a waiver from Missouri's Health Department, allowing them to continue practicing without adhering to all provisions.

If the waiver is not granted, the Columbia and one Kansas City location will be forced to close their doors for expensive renovations.

Paula Gianino is the CEO for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis region.

She says these measures are efforts to close down the Columbia and Kansas City locations.

Actuality: PP5.WAV

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Description: "This legislation is nothing more than an attempt to try to close down those facilities. It's nothing more. Whether or not your hallway is 5 or 6 feet wide does not make a difference in terms of patient safety and its never been shown to be."

Other provisions including prohibiting abortion providers from teaching in Missouri classrooms.

Planned Parenthood says they will not see fall out in their educational programs as their abortion services are performed by a separate entity.

From the state capitol, I'm Courtney Cox.