since it did not include an exception for the health of the mother, but in 2007, the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court. (2)

So why does Texas seek to pass its own ban? Federal law is enforced by federal agencies, not state or local law enforcement. Under President Obama, federal agencies were not enforcing the law. Americans United for Life, a legal organization which writes model legislation for states (among other activities) advises states to pass their own partial birth abortion ban for three reasons.State laws can increase the penalty for doing partial birth abortions, it allows for state enforcement, and since the federal law only applies to entities located on federal property or engaging in interstate commerce, it might possibly allow some abortionists to be exempt.(2)

1.HB 200, text downloaded from http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=85R&Bill=HB200

2. http://www.aul.org/downloads/2016-Legislative-Guides/Abortion/Partial-Birth_Abortion_Ban_Act_-_2016_LG.pdf