Governor Rick Perry To Sign Sweeping Abortion Restrictions

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry is set to sign into law sweeping new abortion restrictions that sparked weeks of protests at the state Capitol.

Perry plans to sign the legislation at a ceremony Thursday morning. It will require abortion clinic doctors to have hospital admitting privileges, restrict abortions to surgical centers, dictate when abortion-inducing drugs can be taken and ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics currently meet the new requirements.

Republicans failed to pass the bill last month on the last day of a special legislative session because of a Democratic state senator's lengthy filibuster and a raucous crowd. They passed it last week after Perry called another session for that reason.

WILL WEISSERT,Associated Press

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.