HB171 • A bill introduced by Rep. Carl Wimmer would require Utah abortion providers to be licensed and inspected by the state to ensure they are safe and sanitary.

But some argue Wimmer's bill is a bid to target providers in order to restrict the procedure.

"What happens with these abortion bills is they realize they can't go and target the patient, so they go around the patient and they attack the providers," said Michelle McOmber, executive vice president of the Utah Medical Association. "This would be a whole new establishment of a license and it's concerning."

Wimmer's HB171 would require providers to pay an annual licensing fee that has yet to be determined, although the Herriman Republican acknowledged the price could be steep. The money would pay for the Health Department to inspect facilities at least twice a year with one of the checks being a surprise visit.

"It's not fair," he said, "for the taxpayers of the state to pay for those inspections."

Missy Bird, executive director of the Planned Parenthood Action Committee, said licensing and inspection requirements already are in place at the state and federal levels.

"We're not concerned about being inspected," she said, "but we are concerned that he's singling out a procedure that is specific to women when there are already guidelines in place and this is already happening."

Wimmer said the inspections are supposed to be taking place, but are not because the Health Department lacks the funding.

"We've seen in recent years news stories that talk about incidences in which there's unsanitary conditions," he said. "Mothers' lives are put at risk because of unsanitary practices. And this will ensure the state policies are being followed."

Only the Utah Women's Clinic provides second-trimester abortions. Planned Parenthood began offering first-trimester abortions last year.

It is unclear whether doctors who do late-term abortions as a medical procedure would have to be licensed. Wimmer said it would apply only to "elective abortions." Hospitals are exempted from the licensing and inspection requirement.

gehrke@sltrib.com