Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected except under certain circumstances, effective July 1, 2012.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any person from performing an abortion before he or she determines if the “unborn human individual” the woman is carrying has a detectable fetal heartbeat (Sec. 1).

• Defines “unborn human individual” as an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth (Sec. 1).

• Exempts abortions performed as a result of a medical emergency from the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

• Defines “medical emergency” as a condition that, in the physician's good-faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at that time, so endangers the life of the pregnant woman or a major bodily function of the pregnant woman as to necessitate the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion (Sec. 1).  

• Authorizes the State Board of Health to promote rules for the appropriate methods of detecting an unborn individual’s fetal heartbeat based on standard medical practice (Sec. 1).

• Requires the person performing the abortion to inform the pregnant woman of the following within 24 hours if a fetal heartbeat has been detected (Sec. 1):
• That the fetus has a detectable heartbeat; and
• The statistical probability of bringing the fetus to term based on its gestational age.

• Requires the pregnant women to sign a form acknowledging that she has received the information required by this bill no later than 24 hours before the abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that performing an abortion before determining if the fetus has a detectable fetal heartbeat is grounds for the non-issuance, suspension, revocation or restriction of a license or the denial of reinstatement or renewal of a license (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text