Violation of the law would carry a minimum $500 fine and a minimum jail sentence of 30 days. But if the father is over 18 and coerces a minor into an abortion, the minimum jail sentence increases to 90 days and a minimum fine of $1,000.

Also taking effect next week is a bill requiring the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to release a biannual report detailing the reasons women obtain abortions.

Except in a medical emergency, providers must ask women to choose “the most important factor” from a list of reasons a woman may choose to terminate a pregnancy. Some of those reasons include being unable to afford a child, the pregnancy affecting the mother’s physical, mental, or emotional health, or that the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest.

Kansas abortion providers have already challenged the abortion reporting law, filing a lawsuit in May. They allege the law would interfere with the fundamental right to bodily autonomy outlined in the state’s constitution.

Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat who serves as the Senate Minority Whip, said the reporting law serves as another “unnecessary deterrent” for women seeking to have a legal abortion.

“If I were a patient going to a clinic after making this decision and then had this put before me, it would be very intrusive and upsetting,” she said. “How does this help us or provide any necessary information?”

Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who sponsored the legislation, said the law would give legislators the Legislature accurate, timely data that could be used to make better decisions for women who made the decision to obtain an abortion.

“It’ll be more of a data driven process, rather than us just thinking we already know what causes different problems people have,” Bryce, who is a doctor, said. “If you see an issue that you want to work on and problem solve, you can make assumptions about it or stop and use more objective data. That’s going to be a lot more effective.”

New foster care policies

This year, Kansas became the first state to offer children aging out of the foster care system to choose a primary legal guardian to care for them as they transition into adulthood. Previously, there were three pathways to choose from: adoption, reunification with their biological family, or the appointment of a custodial parent.

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