New Mo. law places more restrictions on abortion providers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri abortion providers will face new regulations for their clinics and new restrictions on teaching sex education classes.

Gov. Matt Blunt is signing legislation placing more abortion clinics under government oversight by classifying them as ambulatory surgical centers. Planned Parenthood claims the law could force it to spend more than $1 million to remodel some of its buildings.

The bill also bars people affiliated with abortion providers from teaching or supplying materials for sex education courses.

The legislation allows schools to offer abstinence-only programs. It also puts into law an existing grant program for pregnancy centers that encourage women to give birth instead of have abortions.