Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill prohibiting health plans offered through an exchange from covering abortion.

Highlights:

-Specifies that, for the Louisiana legislature, human life begins at conception and that abortion is legal in the state only because of the Supreme Court jurisprudence (Sec. 1). -Specifies that, if decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed, abortion will be illegal in Louisiana (Sec. 1). -Prohibits health plans established in Louisiana through an exchange pursuant to federal health reform legislation from offering coverage for abortions (Sec. 2). -Specifies that nothing in this act shall be construed or implied to recognize any independent right to abortion or to recognize the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Sec. 2). -Specifies that if any provision of this act is held invalid, the other provisions of this act shall remain in effect as long as they have themselves not been struck down (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill prohibiting insurance coverage of elective abortions.

Highlights:

-Specifies that, for the Louisiana legislature, human life begins at conception and that abortion is legal in the state only because of the Supreme Court jurisprudence (Sec. 1). -Specifies that, if decisions of the Untied States Supreme Court are ever reversed, abortion will be illegal in Louisiana (Sec. 1). -Defines "elective abortion" as an abortion for any reason other than to preserve the life of the mother (Sec. 1). -Prohibits any health insurance issuer operating within the state from including benefits payable for elective abortions (Sec. 1). -Specifies that coverage including pregnancy termination necessary to preserve the life of the mother shall require any physician conducting such a procedure to certify the following information in writing and to keep the information for no less than 7 years (Sec. 1):

-All medical indications supporting the conclusion that the termination of pregnancy was necessary to preserve the life of the mother; and -If the unborn child is viable, that all reasonable steps, in accordance with good medical practice, were taken to preserve its life.

-Prohibits all health plans to be offered through a State Exchange from including elective abortion coverage, pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 (Sec. 2). -Specifies that nothing in this act shall be construed or implied to recognize any independent right to abortion or the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Sec. 3). -Specifies that if any provision of this act is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, items, or applications of the act (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text