Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed into law on Thursday, March 24, a bill that would prohibit abortions based on foetal genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome among other possible grounds.

House Enrolled Act 1337, which will take effect on July 1, will ban abortions "solely because of the fetus' race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, or diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the foetus having Down syndrome or any other disability."

Indiana is now the second U.S. state after North Dakota to have such a law.

Pence, who is known as a staunch opponent of abortion, said the law "is a comprehensive pro-life measure that affirms the value of all human life."

"I believe that a society can be judged by how it deals with its most vulnerable—the aged, the infirm, the disabled and the unborn. HEA 1337 will ensure the dignified final treatment of the unborn and prohibits abortions that are based only on the unborn child's sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, or disability, including Down syndrome," he said.

He added, "By enacting this legislation, we take an important step in protecting the unborn, while still providing an exception for the life of the mother."

Abortion provider Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky vowed to block the enforcement of the new law in court.

"It is clear that the governor is more comfortable practicing medicine without a license than behaving as a responsible lawyer, as he picks and chooses which constitutional rights are appropriate," said the group's head, Betty Cockrum, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Indiana Right to Life praised Pence for signing the bill.

"By signing the dignity for the unborn bill, Gov. Pence has again signified his commitment to protecting life. We are pleased that our state values life no matter an individual's potential disability, gender or race," said Mike Fichter, president of IRL.