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New Hampshire Again Taking Up Abortion Clinic Buffer Zones

npr.org

Planned Parenthood is suggesting New Hampshire lawmakers replace the state law creating "buffer zones" around facilities that provide abortions rather than repeal it.

New Hampshire's 25-foot buffer zone law has not been enforced since its passage last summer due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar Massachusetts law. The House Judiciary Committee took testimony Tuesday on a bill to repeal the buffer zone law outright. Its sponsors say the state will face a costly lawsuit if the law remains in place.

Jennifer Frizzell, senior policy adviser for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, says lawmakers could replace the buffer zone with laws that create criminal and civil fines for blocking the entrances to women's health care facilities or harassing employees and patients who enter them.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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