Opinion ID: 1788655
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Committee's Challenges Under Amendment 68.

Text: On appeal, the Committee brings a number of challenges to the chancellor's order and permanent injunction. All of these points relate to the plain language of Amendment 68, Section 1, and whether public funds are being used to pay for abortions. The Committee's broadest argument is that Amendment 68 constitutes a per se bar to the use of any public facilities or public employees to perform an abortion. Thus, when these facilities and employees are either directly or indirectly used in the performance of an abortion, public funds are being used to pay for the cost of an abortion. The Committee contends alternatively that if Amendment 68 does not constitute a per se bar, then the chancellor's order and injunction, which allows a patient to pay in advance or to furnish guarantee of payment by a third-party provider violates Amendment 68 because UAMS cannot determine the cost of an abortion. Additionally, a patient may pay in advance and then incur additional costs in the abortion procedure that were not calculated in the original charge. If the patient cannot pay the additional cost, the Committee maintains that the state is using public funds to pay for the cost of an abortion. The Committee also argues that even if a third-party provider guarantees later payment, the state is effectively financing the cost of an abortion in the interim. Finally, the Committee bolsters its arguments with Section 2 of the amendment, its statement of public policy. The Committee asserts that the level of state involvement in abortions allowed under the trial court's order and injunction is in violation of the amendment's express statement of public policy.