Flickr photo by Jimmy EmersonAbortion legislation has focused attention on the University of Kansas Medical Center. A bill in the House would bar any state employee from performing an abortion during work, except to save a woman’s life. Late Friday, House legislators put a similar provision into their budget proposal. Officials at KU say that could endanger the school’s accreditation because medical residents are considered state employees. They say accreditation requires the school to offer abortion training. A committee put a one-year exemption in the bill for the students. But Senator John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, says that doesn’t solve the problem.
Supporters of the legislation say they believe it won’t endanger KU’s accreditation. Abortion training is done off site at a non-state facility. Students can opt-out of the training if they choose to.