The Virginia Board of Health voted 7 to 4 on Friday to strike from the state's new abortion clinic regulations a controversial provision that would have required existing abortion clinics to meet the same building standards as hospitals.
Opponents of the requirement, which specified things like hallway widths and drinking fountains in waiting rooms, said it would be so cost-prohibitive that it could effectively shut down all 20 abortion providers in the state. Supporters of the provision, including Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, said the rule was meant to protect women's safety.
As the regulations now stand, only new construction of any women's health clinics that provide five or more first-trimester abortions per month must comply with the hospital building standards.
The board also rejected a provision in the regulations that would have allowed the Department of Health to arrive on the premises of an abortion clinic at any time for an inspection, according to the Virginia Coalition to Protect Women's Health.
Board members are still considering other provisions in the new regulations. After Friday's final vote, there will be a 60-day comment period before the regulations go to McDonnell's desk for review.
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