INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In light of the ongoing uproar over Planned Parenthood’s alleged sale of the organs of aborted babies, the governor of Indiana has signed a bill into law regulating how the bodies of aborted babies are disposed.

SB 329, while allowing abortion to continue in the state, “[e]stablishes a right … for a pregnant woman who has an abortion to determine the final disposition of the aborted fetus.”

It “[r]equires that a pregnant woman be informed orally and in writing before an abortion: (1) that the pregnant woman has a right to determine the final disposition of the remains of the aborted fetus; (2) of available options for disposition of the aborted fetus; and (3) of available counseling services.”

According to the bill, the abortion facility is required to document the woman’s decision regarding how she wants her deceased child to be disposed. It notes that a “pregnant woman may decide to cremate or inter an aborted fetus with a gestational age of less than twenty weeks of age.” However, disposal is not limited to burial or cremation.

“If the pregnant woman chooses a means for final disposition that is not required by law or by rule of an abortion clinic or a health care facility, the pregnant woman is responsible for the costs related to the final disposition of the aborted fetus,” SB 329 outlines.

Gov. Mike Pence had ordered the Indiana Department of Health to conduct an investigation last month into the three Planned Parenthood facilities within its borders after videos were released by the Center for Medical Progress that alleged that the organization sells the organs of aborted children.

According to reports, the Department concluded that the facilities were in compliance with the law as they contract with a medical “waste” company to have the remains of the aborted children hauled away and incinerated. Stericycle, the country’s top medical waste company, has been under pressure from pro-life Americans for several years to stop assisting abortionists, including its national practice of burning the bodies of aborted babies with the trash at its various incineration plants.

However, after the state found that one facility—the Indianapolis Planned Parenthood location—was dispensing of baby remains into the sewer, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) implemented emergency disposal rules last month, and lawmakers also worked on legislation to limit how aborted babies are disposed.

“This law creates rules for how to appropriately dispose of aborted fetal remains,” bill author Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) told reporters. “Establishing standards brings respect to the woman, abortion staff and the aborted child. These standards require the facility to dispose of the baby’s remains properly, unless the woman chooses to bury her baby. Hoosiers want their government to ensure the bodies of aborted babies are treated with dignity and this law accomplishes that.”

Indiana Right to Life also applauded the bill’s signing, stating that it is “thankful for Gov. Pence’s commitment to the pro-life cause.”

“The aborted remains bill is especially timely, as Americans pause to consider what becomes of the tiny lives ended in abortion procedures. We believe the aborted remains bill provides dignity to the babies, their mothers and the abortion facility staff,” said President Mike Fichter.

Some pro-life Americans believe that abortion should be ended rather than regulated.

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