SECOND REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ONDER (Sponsor), COOPER (155), CUNNINGHAM (86), SANDER, MUSCHANY, NOLTE, FISHER, JONES (89), SCHOELLER, PEARCE, MOORE, COX, ERVIN, MEADOWS, BRUNS, LEMBKE, EMERY, DAY, YATES, PORTWOOD, DEEKEN, SCHIEFFER, HARRIS (110), RUZICKA, THOMSON, McGHEE, VILLA, SUTHERLAND, WRIGHT, FUNDERBURK, RUESTMAN, WOOD, NIEVES AND DUSENBERG (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time January 24, 2008 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 188.027, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof five new sections relating to abortion, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 188.027, RSMo, is repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 188.027, 188.108, 565.305, 565.310, and 565.315, to read as follows:
188.027. 1. No abortion shall be performed [except with the prior, informed and written consent freely given of the pregnant woman.] or induced on a woman without her voluntary and informed consent, given freely and without coercion. Consent to an abortion is voluntary and informed and given freely and without coercion, if and only if, at least twenty-four hours prior to the abortion:
(1) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion has informed the woman, orally, reduced to writing, and in person, of the following:
(a) The name of the physician who will perform or induce the abortion;
(b) Medically accurate information that a reasonable patient would consider material to the decision of whether or not to undergo the abortion, including:
a. A description of the proposed abortion method;
b. The immediate and long-term medical risks associated with the proposed abortion method including, but not limited to, the risks of infection, hemorrhage, cervical tear or uterine perforation, harm to subsequent pregnancies or the ability to carry a subsequent child to term, and possible adverse psychological risks associated with the abortion;
c. Alternatives to the abortion which shall include making the woman aware that information and materials shall be provided to her detailing such alternatives to the abortion;
d. A statement that the physician performing or inducing the abortion is available for any questions concerning the abortion, together with the telephone number that the physician may be later reached to answer any questions that the woman may have; and
e. The location of the hospital that offers obstetrical or gynecological care located within thirty miles of the location where the abortion is performed or induced and at which the physician performing or inducing the abortion has clinical privileges and where the woman may receive follow-up care by the physician if complications arise;
(c) The gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed or induced;
(d) The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed or induced;
(2) The licensed physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional has presented the woman, in person, printed materials provided by the department or an informational video provided by the department, which describes the probable anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child at two-week gestational increments from conception to full term, including color photographs or images of the developing unborn child at two-week gestational increments. Such descriptions shall include information about brain and heart functions, the presence of external members and internal organs during the applicable stages of development and information on when the unborn child is viable;
(3) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional has presented the woman, in person, printed materials provided by the department or an informational video provided by the department, which describes the various surgical and drug-induced methods of abortion relevant to the stage of pregnancy, as well as the immediate and long-term medical risks commonly associated with each abortion method including, but not limited to, the risks of infection, hemorrhage, cervical tear or uterine perforation, harm to subsequent pregnancies or the ability to carry a subsequent child to term, and the possible adverse psychological risks associated with an abortion;
(4) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional shall provide the woman with the opportunity to view an active ultrasound of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child if the heartbeat is audible. The woman shall be provided with a geographically indexed list maintained by the department of health and senior services of health care providers, facilities, and clinics that perform ultrasounds, including those that offer ultrasound services free of charge. Such materials shall provide contact information for each provider, facility, or clinic including telephone numbers and, if available, website addresses. Should the woman decide to obtain an ultrasound from a provider, facility, or clinic other than the abortion facility, the woman shall be offered a reasonable time to obtain the ultrasound examination before the date and time set for performing or inducing an abortion. The person conducting the ultrasound shall ensure that the active ultrasound image is of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community, contains the dimensions of the unborn child, and accurately portrays the presence of external members and internal organs, if present or viewable, of the unborn child. The auscultation of fetal heart tone must also be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community;
(5) Prior to an abortion being performed or induced on an unborn child subsequent to twenty-two weeks of gestational age, the physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional has presented the woman, in person, printed materials provided by the department or an informational video provided by the department that offers information on the possibility of the abortion causing pain to the unborn child. This information shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(a) That, by twenty-two weeks of gestational age, the unborn child possesses all the anatomical structures, including spinal cord, nerve tracts, thalamus, and cortex, that are necessary in order to feel pain;
(b) A description of the actual steps in the abortion procedure to be performed or induced, and at which steps in the abortion procedure the unborn child is capable of feeling pain;
(c) That there is evidence that by twenty-two weeks of gestational age, unborn children seek to evade certain stimuli in a manner that in an infant or an adult would be interpreted as a response to pain;
(d) That anesthesia is routinely given to unborn children who are twenty weeks or more gestational age who undergo prenatal surgery;
(e) That anesthesia is routinely given to premature children who are twenty weeks or more gestational age who undergo surgery;
(f) That anesthesia or analgesic is available in order to minimize or alleviate the pain to the unborn child;
(6) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional has presented the woman, in person, printed materials provided by the department explaining to the woman alternatives to abortion she may wish to consider. Such materials shall:
(a) Identify on a geographical basis public and private agencies available to assist a woman in carrying her unborn child to term, and to assist her in caring for her dependent child or placing her child for adoption, including agencies commonly known and generally referred to as pregnancy resource centers, crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies. Such materials shall provide a comprehensive list by geographical area of the agencies, a description of the services they offer, and the telephone numbers and addresses of the agencies; provided that such materials shall not include any programs, services, organizations or affiliates of organizations that perform or induce, or assist in the performing or inducing, of abortions or refer for abortions;
(b) Explain the Missouri alternatives to abortion services program under section 188.325, and any other programs and services available to pregnant women and mothers of newborn children offered by state agencies or by private community-based organizations which assist a woman in carrying her unborn child to term and assist her in caring for her dependent child or placing her child for adoption, including, but not limited to prenatal care; maternal health care; newborn or infant care; mental health services; professional counseling services; housing programs; utility assistance; transportation services; food, clothing, and supplies related to pregnancy; parenting skills; educational programs; job training and placement services; drug and alcohol testing and treatment; and adoption assistance;
(c) Identify the state web site for the Missouri alternatives to abortion services program under section 188.325, and any toll-free number established by the state operated in conjunction with the program;
(d) Prominently display the statement: "There are many public and private agencies willing and able to help you carry your child to term, and to assist you and your child after your child is born, whether you choose to keep your child or place him or her for adoption. The state of Missouri encourages you to contact those agencies before making a final decision about abortion. State law requires that your physician or a qualified health professional give you the opportunity to call agencies like these before you undergo an abortion.";
(e) Prominently display the statement: "No one can coerce you to have an abortion. It is against the law for a husband, a boyfriend, a parent, a friend, a medical care provider, or any other person to coerce you in any way to have an abortion.";
(7) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional has presented the woman, in person, printed materials provided by the department or an informational video provided by the department explaining that the father of the unborn child is liable to assist in the support of the child, even in instances where he has offered to pay for the abortion. Such materials shall include information on the legal duties and support obligations of the father of a child, including, but not limited to, child support payments, and the fact that paternity may be established by the father's name on a birth certificate or statement of paternity, or by court action. Such printed materials or video shall also state that more information concerning paternity establishment and child support services and enforcement may be obtained by calling the family support division within the Missouri department of social services;
(8) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional shall inform the woman that it is unlawful for any person to coerce a woman to seek or obtain an abortion;
(9) The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional shall inform the woman that she 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 the loss of any state or federally funded benefits to which she might otherwise be entitled.
2. All information required to be provided to a woman considering abortion by subsection 1 of this section shall be presented to the woman individually and in a private room to protect her privacy, to maintain the confidentiality of her decision, to ensure that the information focuses on her individual circumstances, to ensure she has an adequate opportunity to ask questions, and to ensure that she is not a victim of coerced abortion. Should a woman be unable to read materials provided to her, they shall be read to her. Should a woman need an interpreter to understand the information presented in written materials or informational videos, an interpreter shall be provided to her. Should a woman ask questions concerning any of the information or materials, answers shall be provided in a language she can understand.
3. No abortion shall be performed or induced unless and until the woman upon whom the abortion is to be performed or induced certifies in writing on a checklist form provided by the department that she has been presented all the information required in subsection 1 of this section, that she has been provided the opportunity to view an active ultrasound image of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child if it is audible, and that she further certifies that she gives her voluntary and informed consent, freely and without coercion, to the abortion procedure.
4. No abortion shall be performed or induced on an unborn child of twenty-two weeks gestational age or more unless and until the woman upon whom the abortion is to be performed or induced has been provided the opportunity to choose to have an anesthetic or analgesic administered to eliminate or alleviate pain to the unborn child caused by the particular method of abortion to be performed or induced. The administration of anesthesia or analgesics shall be performed in a manner consistent with standard medical practice in the community.
5. No physician shall perform or induce an abortion unless and until the physician has obtained from the woman her voluntary and informed consent given freely and without coercion. If the physician has reason to believe that the woman is a victim of a coerced abortion, the physician or qualified professional shall inform the woman that services are available for victims of coerced abortion, and shall provide her with private access to a telephone and information about such services.
6. No physician shall perform or induce an abortion unless and until the physician has received and signed a copy of the form prescribed in subsection 3 of this section. The physician shall retain a copy of the form in the patient's medical record.
7. In the event of a medical emergency as provided by section 188.075, the physician who performed or induced the abortion shall clearly certify in writing the nature and circumstances of the medical emergency. This certification shall be signed by the physician who performed or induced the abortion, and shall be maintained under section 188.060.
8. No person or entity shall require, obtain, or accept payment for an abortion from or on behalf of a patient until at least twenty-four hours has passed since the time that the information required by subsection 1 has been provided to the patient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person or entity from notifying the patient that payment for the abortion will be required after the twenty-four-hour period has expired if she voluntarily chooses to have the abortion.
9. The term "qualified professional" as used in this section shall refer to a physician, physician assistant, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed professional counselor, or licensed social worker, under the supervision of the physician performing or inducing the abortion, and acting within the course and scope of his or her authority provided by law. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to in any way expand the authority otherwise provided by law relating to the licensure, registration, or scope of practice of any such qualified professional.
10. Every abortion facility shall display signs that contain exclusively the following words: "NOTICE: No one can force you to have an abortion. It is against the law for a spouse, a boyfriend, a parent, a friend, a medical care provider, or any other person to in any way force you to have an abortion.". The signs shall be designed and located so that such signs can be easily read and ensure maximum visibility to women who enter the abortion facility considering whether to have an abortion; to women at the abortion facility receiving the information required by this section; and to women at the time that they give their consent to an abortion. The location of such signs in abortion facilities shall be specified by rules promulgated by the department and shall be a condition of licensure of any abortion facility under chapter 197, RSMo. The display of signs under this subsection does not discharge the duty to conduct an individual private consultation with a woman considering abortion under subsection 2 of this section.
11. By November 26, 2008, the department shall produce the written materials, signs, informational videos and forms described in this section. Any written materials produced shall be printed in a typeface large enough to be clearly legible. All information shall be presented in an objective, unbiased manner designed to convey only accurate scientific and medical information. The department shall furnish the written materials, signs, informational videos, and forms at no cost and in sufficient quantity to any person who performs or induces abortions, or to any hospital or facility that provides abortions. The department shall make all information required by subsection 1 of this section available to the public through its department web site. The department shall maintain a toll-free, twenty-four-hour hotline telephone number where a caller can obtain information on a regional basis concerning the agencies and services described in subsection 1 of this section. No identifying information regarding persons who use the web site shall be collected or maintained. The department shall monitor the web site on a regular basis to prevent tampering and correct any operational deficiencies.
12. In order to preserve the compelling interest of the state to ensure that the choice to consent to an abortion is voluntary and informed, and given freely and without coercion, the department shall use the procedures for adoption of emergency rules under section 536.025, RSMo, in order to promulgate all necessary rules, forms and other necessary material to implement this section by November 26, 2008.
188.108. It shall never be a bona fide occupational qualification that an employee or applicant for employment seek or obtain an abortion.
565.305. As used in sections 565.305 to 565.315, the following words and phrases shall mean:
(1) "Abortion", the intentional destruction of the life of an embryo or fetus in his or her mother's womb or the intentional termination of the pregnancy of a mother with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth or to remove a dead or dying unborn child;
(2) "Abortion facility", a clinic, physician's office, or any other place or facility in which abortions are performed or induced other than a hospital;
(3) "Abuse", includes but is not limited to any of the following acts, attempts or threats against another person, whether or not the other person seeks relief under chapter 455, RSMo, in connection with such abuse:
(a) Intentionally placing or attempting to place another in fear of physical harm;
(b) Intentionally causing physical harm to another, with or without a deadly weapon;
(c) Compelling another by force or threat of force to engage in conduct from which the other person has a right to abstain or to abstain from conduct in which the other person has a right to engage;
(d) Intentionally engaging in a course of conduct that alarms or causes distress to another person and serves no legitimate purpose. The course of conduct must be such as would cause a reasonable adult to suffer substantial emotional distress and must actually cause substantial emotional distress to the person. Such conduct might include, but is not limited to:
a. Intentionally following another about in a public place;
b. Peering in the window or lingering outside the residence of another; but not including constitutionally protected activity;
(e) Causing or attempting to cause another to engage involuntarily in any sexual act by force, threat of force, or duress;
(f) Intentionally holding, confining, detaining or abducting another person against that person's will;
(g) Any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child under eighteen years of age other than by accidental means by any person eighteen years of age or older or an emancipated child who resides with the child in the same dwelling unit, or stalking of a child. Discipline including spanking of a child administered in a reasonable manner shall not be construed to be abuse;
(4) "Coerces a woman to seek or obtain an abortion", performs an act intended to cause a woman to seek or obtain an abortion against her will, or performs an act conditioned upon or precipitated by a woman disregarding or refusing a demand that she seek or obtain an abortion;
(5) "Course of conduct", a pattern of conduct composed of two or more acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose;
(6) "Domestic violence", causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to a family or household member, or placing a family or household member by threat of force in fear of imminent physical harm;
(7) "Family or household member", spouses, former spouses, adults related by blood or marriage, adults who are presently residing together or have resided together in the past, an adult who is or has been in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, and adults who have a child in common regardless of whether they have been married or have resided together at any time;
(8) "Stalking", intentionally and repeatedly engaging in a course of conduct that reasonably causes fear of danger of physical harm to another person, whether or not the other person seeks relief under chapter 455, RSMo, in connection with such stalking;
(9) "Threatening", two or more communications by any means, or a course of conduct, that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the person is likely to act in accordance with the communications or as implied by the course of conduct. "Threatening" does not include constitutionally protected speech, or any generalized statement regarding abortion such as an emotional expression by a family or household member of the woman;
(10) "Unborn child", the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth and at every stage of his or her biological development, including the human conceptus, zygote, morula, blastocyst, embryo, and fetus;
(11) "Victim of coerced abortion", the victim of the crime of coercing an abortion, whether or not the victim has reported the crime prior to seeking or obtaining an abortion;
(12) "Woman", a female of any age.
565.310. 1. A person commits the crime of coercing an abortion if the person knowingly coerces a woman to seek or obtain an abortion by:
(1) Committing, attempting to commit, or conspiring to commit an offense defined by any other statute of this state against the woman or her family or household member;
(2) Engaging in abuse or stalking of the woman;
(3) Perpetrating an act of domestic violence against the woman;
(4) Filing, attempting to file, or threatening to file for dissolution of marriage or legal separation from the woman;
(5) Refusing, attempting to refuse, or threatening to refuse to pay child support to the woman in connection with her unborn child or any other child or children of the woman for which the person is obligated to pay child support, whether or not that obligation has been established by law at the time of the refusal;
(6) Threatening before the child is born to take legal action after the child is born to deprive the woman of custody of her child;
(7) Withdrawing, attempting to withdraw, or threatening to withdraw financial support from or on behalf of the woman that had previously been supplied or offered to or on behalf of the woman;
(8) Changing, attempting to change, or threatening to change the woman's existing housing or residence;
(9) Discharging, attempting to discharge, or threatening to discharge a female employee; or changing, attempting to change, or threatening to change her compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or
(10) Revoking, attempting to revoke, or threatening to revoke a scholarship awarded to the woman by a public or private institution of higher education.
2. Coercing an abortion is a class A misdemeanor if it is done by the commission of any of the acts specified in subdivisions (2) to (10) of subsection 1 of this section and the act is not otherwise an offense defined by any other statute of this state. Coercing an abortion is classified as follows if it is done by the commission of any of the acts specified in subdivisions (1) to (10) of subsection 1 of this section and the act is otherwise an offense defined by any other statute of this state:
(1) Class A felony in which the court may impose an additional term of imprisonment not to exceed ten years, or an additional fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars, or both, if the offense committed is a class A felony;
(2) Class A felony, if the offense committed is a class B felony;
(3) Class B felony, if the offense committed is a class C felony;
(4) Class C felony, if the offense committed is a class D felony;
(5) Class D felony, if the offense committed is a class A misdemeanor;
(6) Class A misdemeanor, if the offense committed is a class B or C misdemeanor or an infraction.
3. The assent of the woman who is a victim of coerced abortion to seek or obtain an abortion does not constitute consent, and is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection 1 of this section. The mistaken belief that the woman is pregnant when she is not is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection 1 of this section.
4. This section shall not be construed as creating, expanding, or otherwise endorsing a right to an abortion.
565.315. 1. Any person who knowingly performs or induces or assists in performing or inducing an abortion on a woman, with knowledge that the predominant reason the woman is seeking or obtaining the abortion is that the woman is a victim of coerced abortion, is guilty of a class C felony.
2. Whenever a physician, abortion facility, hospital, or other health care provider has reasonable cause to suspect that a woman is a victim of a coerced abortion and the victim is:
(1) A child as defined in section 210.110, RSMo, then a report of suspected abuse shall be made to the department of social services under section 210.115, RSMo;
(2) A vulnerable person as defined in section 630.005, RSMo, then a report of a suspected abuse shall be made to the department of mental health under sections 565.218 and 630.163, RSMo;
(3) An adult with a disability as defined by "eligible adult" in section 660.250, RSMo, then a report of suspected abuse shall be made to the department of health and senior services under sections 198.070, 565.188, and 660.255, RSMo;
(4) An adult who has been subject to abuse by a present or former adult family or household member, or who has been the victim of stalking, then the physician, abortion facility, hospital, or other health care provider shall provide the woman with information on orders of protection under sections 455.010 to 455.085, RSMo.
3. Under the provisions of chapter 188, RSMo, or any other provision of law requiring that a woman give her consent freely and without coercion prior to an abortion, whenever a physician knows that the predominant reason the woman is seeking or obtaining an abortion is that the woman is a victim of coerced abortion, the physician shall certify that the woman lacks the consent required by law.
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