Minn. House passes abortion facility license fees

The Minnesota House has sent Gov. Mark Dayton a bill to require abortion facilities to pay license fees and undergo inspections.

The House passed the measure 80-47 on Friday. The Senate approved it 43-23 earlier this week.

The bill would have facilities that perform more than 10 abortions per month pay a $3,712 annual license fee and undergo inspections up to two times per year by the commissioner of health.

Backers say it's needed oversight of invasive procedures. Critics argue it singles out abortion facilities over other clinics and creates barriers to abortions. The Department of Health says that clinics in the state are not licensed, but doctors and nurses at the facilities are.

Dayton, who supports abortion rights, is not expected to sign the bill.

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