Signed by Governor Tate Reeves

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits abortions for reasons of race, sex, or genetic abnormality, except in cases of medical emergencies, effective July 1, 2020.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person from performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion unless the physician has first confirmed that the abortion is not being sought because of the race or sex of the fetus, or because of the presence of a genetic abnormality and has documented these facts in the patient’s health chart, as well as in the report to be filed with the Mississippi State Department of Health (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that any person who violates the prohibitions of this act will be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, will be imprisoned for up to 10 years (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that an individual on whom an abortion is performed, induced, or attempted in violation of this act will not be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit a violation of this act (Sec. 6). 

• Defines “medical emergency” as a condition in which, on the basis of the physician’s clinical judgment, an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant individual whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a physical condition caused from the pregnancy itself, or when the continuation of the pregnancy will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function (Sec. 3).

• Defines “human being” as an individual member of the species Homo sapiens, from and after the point of conception (Sec. 3).

• Requires a physician who performs or induces an abortion to file a report, supplied by the Department, within 15 days following the abortion, containing the following information (Sec. 4):

• The date the abortion was performed; 

• The specific method of abortion used; 

• Whether the race of, sex of, or the presence of any genetic abnormality has been detected at the time of the abortion; 

• A statement confirming that the reason for the abortion, as stated by the patient, was not because of race, sex, or genetic abnormality; and

• Probable health consequences of the abortion and specific abortion method used. 

• Specifies that a physician who violates section 4 of this act commits an act of unprofessional conduct and their license to practice medicine in the state will be suspended or revoked by the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that a physician who delivers to the Department any report that they know to be false will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation (Sec. 7).

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits abortions for reasons of race, sex, or genetic abnormality.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person from performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion unless the physician has first confirmed that the abortion is not being sought because of the race or sex of the fetus, or because of the presence of a genetic abnormality and documenting these facts in the patient’s health chart, as well as in the report to be filed with the Mississippi State Department of Health (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that any person who violates the prohibitions of this act will be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, will be imprisoned for up to 10 years (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that an individual on whom an abortion is performed, induced, or attempted in violation of this act will not be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit a violation of this act (Sec. 6). 

• Defines “medical emergency” as a condition in which, on the basis of the physician’s clinical judgement, an abortion is necessary to preserve the life of the pregnant individual whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illnesss, or injury, inclduing a physical condition caused from the pregnancy itself, or when the continuation of the pregnancy will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function (Sec. 3).

• Defines “human being” as an individual member of the species Homo sapiens, from and after the point of conception (Sec. 3).

• Requires a physician who performs or induces an abortion to file a report, supplied by the Department, within 15 days following the abortion, containing the following information (Sec. 4):

• Date the abortion was performed; 

• Specific method of abortion used; 

• Whether the race of, sex of, or the presence of any genetic abnormality has been detected at the time of the abortion; 

• A statement confirming that the reason for the aboriton, as stated by the patient, was not because of race, sex, or genetic abnormality; and

• Probable health consequences of the abortion and specific abortion method used. 

• Specifies that a physician who violates section 4 of this act commits an act of unprofessional conduct and their license to practice medicine in the state will be suspended or revoked by the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that a physician who delivers to the Department any report required by section that they know to be false will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation (Sec. 7).