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PHOENIX, April 13, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Thursday signed a new state law banning abortion after 20 weeks based both on the pain suffered by the unborn child and the health risks posed to the mother.

HB 2036, called “The Mother’s Health and Safety Act,” bans abortion after 20 weeks since a woman’s last menstruation, except in cases of medical emergencies. Another provision of the law requires abortionists to have hospital privileges at a facility within 30 miles of the surgical abortion site.

The state House this week also passed a strengthened informed-consent law and another measure regarding abortion education in schools.

In a press release from Gov. Brewer’s office, state Rep. Kimberly Yee thanked the governor for signing the measure. “This important bill strengthens Arizona’s laws protecting the health and safety of women, and recognizes the precious life of the preborn baby,” she said.

According to Americans United for Life, although seven states have similar fetal pain laws, Arizona’s is the first to ban such late-term abortions also because of the invasive procedure’s risk to the mother’s health.

Americans United for Life (AUL) President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest commended Gov. Brewer for signing the law, which was based on AUL model legislation

“Arizona is leading the nation in enacting this new law that shows concern for both mother and child. The abortion industry’s war on women has left many injured people behind. This ban will protect women’s lives, despite the best efforts of the abortion industry to block reasonable limits on a procedure that becomes more dangerous with each passing week,” said Dr. Yoest.

Pro-life watchdog groups monitoring one abortion clinic in nearby Albuquerque, New Mexico, where three late-term abortionists work, uncovered last year several troubling 911 calls detailing severe complications of late-term abortions there.

As of December the state medical board was investigating Southwestern Women’s Options, where 11 seriously botched abortions were documented in 15 months.