State Senate OKs bill on burial, cremation of fetal remains

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Republican-controlled state Senate has approved a bill requiring Ohio abortion clinics to arrange for fetal remains to be buried or cremated.

Legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Joe Uecker (EE’-kuhr), of Miami Township, mandates that abortion providers inform women prior to the procedure of those two choices.

The bill, which passed 24-7 Wednesday, further requires clinics to document transfer of the remains to either a funeral home or crematorium. The paperwork must be filed with the Ohio Department of Health.

Uecker says he wants to “promote and honor the dignity of the unborn.” Abortion rights groups say the bill aims to shame women and put legal abortions further out of reach.

The Senate has passed two previous versions of the bill. It goes next to the House.