Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires an ultrasound at least 24 hours before an abortion.

Highlights:

• Requires a qualified medical professional, who is trained in sonography and who is under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, to perform an abdominal ultrasound on an abortion patient at least 24 hours prior to the abortion (Sec. 1).

• Requires the ultrasound to be performed at least 2 hours prior to the abortion if the abortion patient lives at least 100 miles from the facility where the abortion is to be performed (Sec. 1).

• Requires the physician to verbally offer the abortion patient the opportunity to view the ultrasound image, receive a copy of the ultrasound image, and hear the fetal heartbeat, which the abortion patient is authorized to refuse (Sec. 1).

• Requires the physician to offer other ultrasound imaging if the gestational age of the fetus cannot be determined using an abdominal ultrasound, which the abortion patient is authorized to refuse (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill do not prevent a physician from using any ultrasound imaging that he or she considers medically appropriate (Sec. 1).

• Rep. Kenneth "Kenny" Cooper Alexander is listed on our vote breakdown as not voting; he intended to vote "Nay".

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires physicians to offer to perform an ultrasound prior to an abortion.

Highlights:

• Requires a qualified medical professional trained in sonography and who is working under the direct supervision of a licensed physician to offer the following services to a patient seeking an abortion before the abortion is performed (Sec. 1):
• Fetal ultrasound imaging; and
• Auscultation of the fetal heart tone.

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

Full Bill Text