Signed by Governor Phil Bryant

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that prohibits a physician from performing an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, effective July 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a physician from performing an abortion after 20 weeks of gestation, unless any of the following circumstances apply (Secs. 5 & 7):
• The abortion is necessary to avert the death or serious physical injury or impairment of the pregnant woman; or
• The abortion is performed on a fetus with a “severe fetal abnormality” and the pregnant woman is informed 24 hours prior to the abortion that supportive care is available should she choose to carry her pregnancy to term. 

• Defines “severe fetal abnormality” as a physical condition that, in reasonable medical judgment, is incompatible with “life outside the womb” (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits a physician from performing an abortion unless they have determined the probable gestational age of the fetus or possess such a determination from another physician (Sec. 5).

• Requires a individual who violates the provisions of this bill to be subject to the nonissuance, suspension, revocation, restriction, or denial of reinstatement or renewal of his or her medical license (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that prohibits a physician from performing an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, effective July 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a physician from performing an abortion after 20 weeks of gestation, unless any of the following circumstances apply (Secs. 5 & 7):
• The abortion is necessary to avert the death or serious physical injury or impairment of the pregnant woman; or
• The abortion is performed on a fetus with a “severe fetal abnormality” and the pregnant woman is informed 24 hours prior to the abortion that supportive care is available should she choose to carry her pregnancy to term. 

• Defines “severe fetal abnormality” as a physical condition that, in reasonable medical judgment, is incompatible with “life outside the womb” (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits a physician from performing an abortion unless they have determined the probable gestational age of the fetus or possess such a determination from another physician (Sec. 5).

• Requires a individual who violates the provisions of this bill to be subject to the nonissuance, suspension, revocation, restriction, or denial of reinstatement or renewal of his or her medical license (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual from performing or inducing an abortion on a patient when the probable “post-conception age” of the fetus is 20 or more weeks (Sec. 5).

• Defines “post-conception age” as the age of the fetus as calculated from the time the fused human spermatozoon and human ovum implant in the human female uterus (Sec. 3).

• Requires a physician to determine or rely on another physician to determine the probable post-conception age of the fetus before performing or inducing an abortion (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes a physician to perform or induce an abortion even if the post-conception age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more in circumstances including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 7):
• The woman is at risk of dying or will suffer substantial and irreversible physical impairment; or
• The fetus has a “severe fetal abnormality.” 

• Defines “severe fetal abnormality” as a life threatening physical condition that, regardless of the provision of life saving medical treatment, is incompatible with life outside the womb as determined by a physician’s reasonable medical judgment (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that failure to comply with the 20 week provision of this bill is grounds for the noninsurance, suspension, revocation or restriction of a government issued license (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text