HB 603 – Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

SB 547 – Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Primary House Sponsors: Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Pat McElraft (R-Craven), Rep. Deborah Conrad (R-Forsyth), Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry), Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph)

Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Kraweic (R-Forsyth), Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga), Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Irredell)

Bill Summary

Protection from Abortion of an Unborn Child Capable of Feeling Pain

The bill defines capability to feel pain if it is determined by a physician performing the abortion of an unborn child or by another physician upon whose determination such physician relies that the probable postfertilization age is 20 or more weeks.

The bill states that when an abortion of an unborn child is to prevent a serious health risk to the mother, the physician shall terminate the pregnancy through or by the method that, using reasonable medical judgement, termination of the pregnancy would pose a more serious health risk to the unborn child’s  mother than would other available methods.

The bill states that beginning January 1, 2020, a physician who performs, induces, or attempts to perform an abortion shall report all of the following information to DHHS:

  • Probable postfertilization age of the unborn child
  • If ultrasound was performed in making the determination
  • Method of abortion

The bill states that this information on these statistics shall be available in paper form and the website by DHHS. None of this information should be identifiable to a patient.

The failure to report in this section shall result in a penalty of $1,000 per 30 day late period.

Bill Movement

House

This bill was filed on April 4, 2019.

This bill was referred to the following committees:

  • Health
  • Rules

Senate

This bill was filed on April 2, 2019.

This bill was referred to the Senate Rules committee on April 3, 2019.