By Becky Bohrer The Associated Press AP

5:28 p.m. AKST, January 22, 2013
JUNEAU, Alaska—

The Senate majority leader plans to introduce legislation defining a "medically necessary" abortion.

Sen. John Coghill of North Pole told an anti-abortion rally -- to applause -- Tuesday that the issue will be looked at this session.

Coghill was the main speaker at the rally on the state Capitol steps, held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. A number of other lawmakers, mainly Republicans, also attended.

The Alaska Supreme Court has held that the state must fund medically necessary abortions if it funds medically necessary services for others with financial needs. A legislative legal opinion last year said it's not clear what constitutes medically necessary, and that it's likely only further litigation will provide greater clarity.