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Board votes twice, nixes abortion clinic regulation

Posted at 4:18 PM, Jun 15, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-18 08:17:33-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) – The Virginia Board of Health nixed a controversial provision Friday in some new regulations for abortion clinics in Virginia after nearly nine hours of debate.

CBS 6 News' Shelby Brown said the board first voted 7-4 to remove a requirement that forced clinics to be held to the same standards as hospitals. In turn, only new clinics would be held to those standards.

Then, after some more debate, the board voted on the measure again. This time, the vote was 6-5 after one member decided to change their vote.  

Emergency regulations to require clinics be held to the hospital standards had been in place since January. 

"The grandfather amendment was the best thing that could happen to very bad regulations," said of the regulation's critics. "We still have some of the most stringent and specific regulations in the nation." 

Supporters of the regulations insisted they were necessary to ensure the safety of women seeking abortions.

But opponents said the rules were an effort by state leaders to limit access to clinics by increasing the costs of operation, which could ultimately force many clinics out of business. [RELATED: Protest held over abortion clinic regulations]