Signed by Governor Jan Brewer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands and supplements regulations on abortion, including establishing a 24-hour waiting period, prohibiting non-physicians from performing the procedure, authorizing health professionals to refuse to partake in an abortion procedure or the prescribing of emergency contraception, and requiring unemancipated minors seeking to obtain an abortion to prove to a judge that they are mature enough to give consent without consulting their parent or legal guardian.

Highlights:

-Establishes a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, during which the the woman must be informed, orally and in person, of the following (Sec. 4):

- The name of the physician who will perform the abortion; -The nature of the proposed procedure or treatment; -The immediate and long-term medical risks associated with the procedure; -Alternatives to the procedure that are available; -The probable gestational age of the fetus; -The probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the fetus; -Medical assistance benefits available for prenatal care, childbirth, or neonatal care; -The liability of the father to assist in the support of the child, even if he has offered to pay for the abortion, unless the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest; -Public and private agencies that are available to assist the woman during her pregnancy and after the birth of her child if she chooses not to have an abortion; -That it is unlawful for any person to coerce a woman to undergo an abortion; and -That the woman is free to withhold or withdraw her consent to the abortion at any time without affecting her right to future care or treatment and without loss of any state or federally funded benefits to which she might be entitled.

-Requires a woman seeking an abortion to certify in writing that all of the above information has been provided to her during the 24-hour waiting period (Sec. 4). -Exempts the above requirements related to the 24-hour waiting period if a medical emergency exists, meaning a condition that, on the bases of a physician's good faith clinical judgment, so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman that an immediate abortion is necessary to avert death, or for which a delay will create serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function (Secs. 2 & 4). -Prohibits an individual from performing an abortion if they are not a licensed physician (Sec. 4). -Authorizes a pharmacy, hospital, health professional, or any employee thereof, to refuse to participate or facilitate an abortion or the prescribing of abortion medication, emergency contraception, or any medical device intended to inhibit or prevent implantation of a fertilized ovum based on moral or religious grounds (Sec. 5). -Requires a pregnant unemancipated minor seeking to obtain an abortion to prove to a judge of the superior court that she is sufficiently mature and capable of giving her informed consent without consulting her parent or legal guardian (Sec. 3). -Enumerates the following relevant factors that the court may consider in assessing the minor's experience level, perspective, and judgment in order to determine if she is mature enough to give informed consent to an abortion (Sec. 3):

-Age; -Work experience outside of the home; -Living away from home; -Traveling alone; -Handling personal finances; -Conduct since learning of pregnancy; -Steps taken in considering all of her options; and -Intellectual ability to understand and make informed decisions.

-Supplements the requirement that the written consent form, as required by existing law, from the parent or legal guardian of a pregnant unemancipated minor seeking an abortion be notarized in order for her to obtain an abortion (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text