Abortion centers need oversight.  They are not capable of self-regulation. One Virginia abortion center was closed down in 2016 due to violations of regulations.  Women seeking an abortion need the same health protections that are required of other surgical facilities.

I suggest the following:

Require that inspections on abortion facilities occur each year, not just every other year.

Reinstate reasonable facility design standards, such as hallways wide enough for stretchers.

The Commissioner should not have the power to grant permanent variances.

Reinstate the requirement that abortion facilities provide information on post-abortion counseling for patients.  Depression and other adverse mental health results are a significant problems for women who have had an abortion.  See research by Priscilla Coleman, such as  Abortion and mental health: A quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published from 1995-2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199, 180-186. (2011)

Reinstate the definition of first trimester as being the first twelve weeks.

Reinstate the requirement that abortion facilities report to the Office of Licensure and Certification all incidents reported to a malpractice insurance carrier.

Require that all Office of Licensure and Certification inspections insure that an ultrasound has been performed at least 24 hours prior to any abortion.

And, reinstate all health and safety measures that the Board of Health weakened during the previous amendment process.