The South Dakota Senate has given final legislative approval to and sent to Governor Dennis Daugaard a bill making the nation’s longest waiting period for a woman to receive an abortion even longer.

     Senators voted 24-9 Thursday to approve the bill, which has already been passed by the House, which Daugaard is expected to sign.

Women seeking abortions in South Dakota must currently must wait 3 days after seeing an abortion clinic doctor before they can have the procedure.

        The bill keeps the 3 day period, but makes it apply only to business days so that weekends and holidays do not count in calculating the waiting period.

Supporters say the change would ensure women have time to receive required counseling at pregnancy help centers, which discourage abortions. Opponents say it works a hardship on many women seeking abortions.