Eleven Republicans in the Alaska State House joined all their Democrat and left-leaning independent colleagues to pass a bill which many pro-lifers see as an abortion expansion bill.

In a 32-8 vote on May 15, legislators approved House Bill 195 and advanced it to the Senate for consideration.

The bill aims to expand the ability of pharmacists to prescribe and administer drugs that are intended to achieve outcomes related to the cure, prevention or management of a disease.

According to an April 1 analysis by Alaska Legislative Attorney Conrad Gunther, however, the legislation may also indirectly open the door for pharmacists to vastly expand chemical abortions across the state.

The legal memo notes that under existing law, pharmacists have broad authority to dispense prescription drugs ordered by practitioners who are licensed to prescribe or administer the drugs, but pharmacists have “limited authority to prescribe and administer drugs themselves.”

Prior to the vote on the main bill, Rep. Jamie Allard (R-Eagle River) offered an amendment to ensure that the bill would not allow pharmacists to prescribe any abortion inducing drugs such as misoprostol. The amendment was quickly tabled in a 23-17 vote, with GOP Representatives Julie Coulombe, Mike Prax, Justin Ruffridge, Dan Saddler and Louise Stutes voting to block an up-or-down vote on the amendment.

In the final vote, 11 GOP lawmakers joined the Democrats to pass the unamended bill. These Republicans include the following members:

— Steve St. Clair (Wasilla)

— Elexie Moore (Wasilla)

— Jubilee Underwood (Wasilla)

— Dan Saddler (Eagle River)

— Justin Ruffridge (Soldotna)

— Bill Elam (Nikiski)

— Mike Prax (North Pole)

— David Nelson (Anchorage)

— Chuck Kopp (Anchorage)

— Julie Coulombe (Anchorage)

— Jeremy Bynum (Ketchikan)

The bill is now headed to the State Senate.

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