CINCINNATI — Today, the ACLU, ACLU of Ohio, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, along with Fanon A. Rucker of The Cochran Firm-OH, filed a complaint in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas requesting a court order that Ohio abortion providers not be exposed to penalties under Senate Bill 27, with which compliance is impossible due to the Ohio Department of Health’s failure to establish or issue necessary rules and regulations. The law takes effect on April 6, but the state is not charged with issuing rules until July 5.
The following statement is issued on behalf of representatives from the ACLU, ACLU of Ohio, Northeast Ohio Women’s Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, and Preterm-Cleveland:
“The absence of regulations leaves Ohio abortion providers in an impossible situation that we did not ask for or create. We file this complaint to ensure that we are not vulnerable to severe sanctions, fines and penalties, including potential license revocation, during this interim period. Given the history of aggressive enforcement by the State against abortion providers in the past, we have no choice but to take this matter to court. Despite the fact that we are in the midst of a global pandemic and there are vast and numerous public health tasks before the Ohio Department of Health, the State passed this frivolous and medically unnecessary law. We simply want reassurance that we won’t be punished for our inability to comply with a directive that doesn’t exist. Abortion is essential healthcare and our primary focus remains on the health and safety of our patients.”
