HCS HB 1055 -- ABORTIONS

SPONSOR:  Franz (Sander)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Family Services by a vote of 6 to 3 with 1 present.

This substitute changes the laws regarding abortion.  In its main
provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Revises the requirements for the presentation of information
in public schools relating to contraception and sexually
transmitted diseases by adding the option of presenting students
with information on contraceptives and pregnancy in a manner
consistent with federal abstinence laws.  Currently, students
must be presented with the latest medically factual information
regarding side effects, health benefits, and failure rates for
methods of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted
diseases;

(2)  Prohibits school districts and charter schools from
providing abortion services or allowing a person or entity who
provides abortion services from offering, sponsoring, or
furnishing course materials related to human sexuality and
sexually transmitted diseases;

(3)  Defines "medical emergency" as a condition which, on the
basis of a physician's good-faith clinical judgment, so
complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to
necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert the
death of the pregnant woman or for which delay will create a
serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a
major bodily function of the pregnant woman;

(4)  Changes certain penalties relating to abortion by including
penalties for those persons who knowingly induce or aid in the
inducing of an abortion.  Currently, there are penalties for any
person who knowingly performs or aids in the performance of any
abortion;

(5)  Provides for an affirmative medical emergency defense for
violations of any abortion provision;

(6)  Establishes the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services
Program to provide services or counseling to pregnant women and
assistance to women in caring for their children or placing them
up for adoption.  Counseling and services are available to a
woman during her pregnancy and for one year after the birth of
her child.  The department or departments administering the
programs may contract with public or private agencies to provide
services or counseling;

(7)  Establishes the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Public
Awareness Program which requires the department or departments
administering the program to develop an advertising campaign
publicizing alternatives to abortion and to prioritize federal,
public, and private moneys so that they are used first to fund
these programs.  These programs and their funds will not be used
to perform, induce, or assist in abortions; and

(8)  Changes the definition of "ambulatory surgical center" in
Section 197.200, RSMo, to include any establishment operated for
the purpose of performing or inducing any second or third
trimester abortions or at least five or more first trimester
abortions per month.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Less than
$130,306 in FY 2008, Less than $136,797 in FY 2009, and Less than
$137,901 in FY 2010.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2008,
FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will provide statutory
authority to fund the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services
Program which does not provide family planning services and
thereby promotes the organizations affiliated with the program
through increased public awareness efforts afforded by the funds.
The Governor supports the bi-partisan bill.  The program will
focus on women who are already pregnant and on agencies that
promote life and not death.  The bill is important because it
provides separation from family planning programs and helps a
woman in a crisis during her pregnancy with the alternative to
abortion services necessary to support the woman so that an
abortion is not a necessary option.  It is a myth that increasing
funding for family planning services decreases abortions.
Current alternatives to abortion programs provide valuable
services for women and children and less than 3% of women who
participate in the program return to the program, indicating its
success.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Sander; Campaign Life
Missouri; Missouri Right to Life; Missouri Catholic Conference;
Missouri Family Network; Americans United for Life; and Missouri
Baptist Convention, Christian Life Commission.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the program's
concept is good but that the legislature should be concerned with
funding programs that intimidate women about abortions by using
tactics that are unethical in order to discourage abortions.

Testifying against the bill were Planned Parenthood Affiliates in
Missouri.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am