Vote Smart's Synopsis:

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

Highlights:

• Prohibits a physician from performing or inducing an abortion of a fetus that is 20 or more weeks old, except when the abortion is necessary to avoid the patient’s death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function (Sec. 1).

• Requires a physician to determine the age of a fetus before performing an abortion, except in the case of a “medical emergency” (Sec. 1).

• Defines “medical emergency” as a condition that complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman to the point where an immediate abortion without first determining fetal age is required in order to avoid the woman's death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions (Sec. 1).

• Requires a physician to abort a qualifying pregnancy of 20 or more weeks in a manner that provides the best opportunity for the fetus to survive, unless that method would pose a greater risk of either the patient’s death or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function (Sec. 1).

• Classifies a violation of the bill as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no less than $2,000 but no more than $10,000, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both (Sec. 1).

• Requires a physician who performed an abortion within the state to report it to the Department of Health and Environmental Control within 7 days, and include certain information in the report, including, but not limited to the following information (Sec. 1):
• The post-fertilization age of the fetus;
• The age of the patient; and
• The reason for the abortion if the fetus had a post-fertilization age of 20 weeks or more.

• Specifies that a physician has a 30-day grace period to submit the report past its due date, and will then be fined $1,000 for each additional 30-day period that the report is overdue (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text