RALEIGH - A House committee held a two-hour hearing Tuesday on the controversial bill that passed the Senate last week. They agreed to discuss the measures with HHS before they take a vote. North Carolina's top health official says her department needs more time to study the impact of legislation that would impose strict new standards on abortion clinics.

Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos told House members who are considering the bill that the state only has ten staffers to inspect every abortion clinic in the state. “As a result, DHHS is only able to inspect the medical component of abortion clinics every three to five years.”

Wos asked lawmakers to new standards for abortion clinics carefully. “I urge you to follow the Governor’s advice and leadership and spend more time studying these issues and how North Carolina can best improve the health and safety for everyone.”

The proposed law would require more medical supervision of abortions and set standards for clinics similar to those of ambulatory surgery centers.

Erin Arizzi of NARAL says the proposed law would shut down all but one abortion clinic in North Carolina. “This is how states end up with one abortion care provider because it’s illegal to ban abortion. We have a constitutional right to abortion in this country. However, you can regulate so much so that clinics cannot stay open.”

Supporters of the bill say it protects patient safety by requiring more medical supervision and holding clinics to standards similar to those for ambulatory surgery centers.