The Real Impact of Texas' New Abortion Law

Critics say Blacks and low income individuals hit hardest.

A Controversial Law -  Amid weeks of protests from dissenters, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed in to law on Thursday new abortion restrictions that could force most of the state's clinics that perform abortions to shut down this fall. Keep reading for a closer look at the law and its potential impact on the state's most vulnerable populations. — Britt Middleton  (Photo: AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner)

1 / 8

A Controversial Law - Amid weeks of protests from dissenters, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed in to law on Thursday new abortion restrictions that could force most of the state's clinics that perform abortions to shut down this fall. Keep reading for a closer look at the law and its potential impact on the state's most vulnerable populations. — Britt Middleton (Photo: AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner)

Perry Bows Out - Texas governor and failed Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has announced he plans to retire. The state's longest-serving governor, made famous for an "oops" moment during a presidential debate, may still have his eyes on the big White House prize.   (Photo: Stewart F. House/Getty Images)

2 / 8

Perry Signs Sweeping Abortion Bill - The law limits abortions to surgical centers and requires doctors who work at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the facility, among other requirements. There are currently only five out of the 42 abortion clinics in the state that meet these new requirements. (Photo: Stewart F. House/Getty Images)

The Long Fight - Abortion rights have remained a contentious issue in the nation's largest state. In 2011, Republican state lawmakers voted to block all funding from the state's Medicaid family planning program, known as the Women's Health Program, from Planned Parenthood clinics. One day before the new law's signing, the health care provider announced it would be closing three of its clinics in the state due to that 2011 measure. (Photo: Planned Parenthood)

3 / 8

The Long Fight - Abortion rights have remained a contentious issue in the nation's largest state. In 2011, Republican state lawmakers voted to block all funding from the state's Medicaid family planning program, known as the Women's Health Program, from Planned Parenthood clinics. One day before the new law's signing, the health care provider announced it would be closing three of its clinics in the state due to that 2011 measure. (Photo: Planned Parenthood)

Stood Her Ground - Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis achieved national acclaim after speaking from her chamber's floor for 13 hours, which helped defeat a controversial abortion bill.     (Photo: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

4 / 8

Lawmakers Fight for Women's Rights - Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis became an overnight sensation in late June after she staged a one-woman, nearly 12-hour long filibuster in an effort to kill the bill on the last day of the legislative session. Despite Davis successfully talking past the midnight deadline, Perry called state lawmakers back for a second special session last week, setting the course for the bill's final approval. (Photo: Erich Schlegel/Getty Images)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/07/Health/071212-health-depression-sadness-illness-abuse.jpg

5 / 8

Restricting Care for the Most Needy - Now that the law has been ratified, many pro-choice advocates fear its negative impact on the state's most vulnerable populations, namely low-income individuals and minorities, who depend on these clinics for health care needs. Supporters have argued that by tightening regulation, women will receive higher quality health care.  (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Women - Renew the Violence Against Women Act to help protect victims of domestic violence and help law enforcement investigate and prosecute sexual assaults. The Senate voted Tuesday to renew the law; Obama called on the House to quickly send him a bill. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

6 / 8

Black Women and Abortion - Overall, African-American women have the highest unplanned pregnancy and abortion rates in the United States. In Texas, Black women make up about 27 percent of abortions performed in the state, coming in third to whites (30 percent) and Latinas (36 percent), according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. (Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images/STOCK

/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/11/Health/111612-health-reading-teenagers-girls-pregnancy-magazines-body-image-socializing.jpg

7 / 8

Abortion Rates High Among Black Texas Teens - More troubling, however, are the reports that abortion among Black teens nationally are highest in the state of Texas: for every 1,000 pregnancies, there are 78 abortions among Black youth, topping all other ethnicities, according to a  2013 Guttmacher report. (Photo: Alistair Berg/Getty Images)

Photo By Alistair Berg/Getty Images

Parental Involvement - In the case of minors, 38 states require some kind of parental involvement in an underage person's decision to have an abortion. One or both parents must agree to the procedure in 21 states, while 12 mandate that one or both parents be notified and five require consent and notification. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Stone)

8 / 8

Barring Access to Health Care - Writes BET.com's Kellee Terrell: "And so if the goal is to bring those numbers down, it doesn’t make sense to then close down clinics that can reduce unplanned pregnancies in our community. Not to mention, these clinics, which will be closed down, also screen for cancer and educate our community about STDs and HIV/AIDS. " (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Stone)