The Alabama Women’s Center for Reproductive Alternatives in Huntsville, the only abortion services provider in North Alabama, will surrender its license Monday.

The clinic would be required to undergo structural changes, if it remained open, under the new Women’s Health and Safety Act that was sponsored by Alabama Republicans. The act mandates widening the building’s halls and installing better fire suppression equipment. According to the act, which was passed by the state legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Robert Bentley, clinics must be certified ambulatory health centers, and all abortion clinic doctors are required to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

The act takes effect  July 1. 

However, the clinic is unable to meet those requirements currently. Its closing leaves Alabama with three abortion providers: Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Mobile.

Until the clinic is approved for relocation, if at all, Shoals women have access to alternative facilities that can provide other services, such as Shoals Women’s Clinic in Florence.

Beth Grisham, director of the clinic said all services, including testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are provided free of charge. The clinic also provides options counseling, adoption referrals, ultra sounds and parenting skills courses, Grisham said.

The clinic does not, however, perform or refer patients for abortions, according to its website.

Anti-abortion organizations, like the Life Legal Defense Foundation, have proclaimed victory for their views.

“We rejoice that as of July 1, Huntsville is abortion free,” said Dana Cody, president and executive director of the foundation. “We will vigorously oppose any attempt to reopen this or any other abortion facility in this city.”

Sophomore Kaitlin Douglass said the closing of the clinic, because of the new act, limits women’s rights to choose.

“You cannot make someone’s life choices for them,” Douglass said. “Although I do agree that there are better alternative ways to deal with an unexpected pregnancy, closing an abortion clinic is not going to stop abortions from happening.”

The Shoals Women’s Clinic is located at 2201 Cloyd Blvd., Florence and can be reached at 256-740-0640 or on its 24-hour hotline at 1-800-712-HELP (4357).