DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says since Iowa has no laws governing the transfer of fetal tissue his office has no authority to investigate abortion providers about the practice of donating tissue for research.
Republican lawmakers delivered a letter in August to Miller asking him to investigate abortion practices.
The lawmakers wanted to know how abortion providers dispose of aborted tissue and if any fetal organs are sold or donated.
Miller told them in a response Friday federal authorities oversee the transfer of donated fetal tissue.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which operates 13 Iowa clinics, voluntarily offered answers, saying it has never accepted donated fetal tissue for research.
Controversy emerged with the release of secretly recorded videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing aborted fetal organs provided for research.
