SB 72 prohibit the abortion of an unborn child who is capable of exper...
State of South Dakota
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NINETY-FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2016
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265X0060
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SENATE BILL NO. 72
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Introduced by: Senators Monroe, Brown, Cammack, Greenfield (Brock), Haggar (Jenna),
Heineman (Phyllis), Holien, Jensen (Phil), Novstrup (David), Olson, Omdahl,
Rampelberg, Rusch, and Shorma and Representatives Latterell, Anderson,
Bolin, Brunner, Campbell, Craig, Deutsch, DiSanto, Greenfield (Lana),
Haggar (Don), Harrison, Haugaard, Heinemann (Leslie), Holmes, Klumb,
Langer, Marty, May, Mickelson, Novstrup (Al), Partridge, Peterson (Kent),
Qualm, Rasmussen, Ring, Rounds, Russell, Schoenbeck, Stalzer, Steinhauer,
Tulson, Verchio, Westra, Wiik, Willadsen, Wollmann, and Zikmund
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FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to prohibit the abortion of an unborn child who is capable
of experiencing pain and to provide a penalty therefor.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
The Legislature finds that:
(1) The state has a compelling state interest in protecting the lives of unborn children
from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates that they are capable
of feeling pain;
(2) There is substantial medical evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing
pain by twenty weeks after fertilization.
Section 2. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Terms used in this Act mean:
(1) "Post-fertilization age," the age of an unborn child as calculated from the fusion of
a human spermatozoon with a human ovum;
(2) "Probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child," what, in reasonable medical
judgment, will with reasonable probability be the post-fertilization age of the unborn
child at the time the abortion is planned to be performed or induced;
(3) "Reasonable medical judgment," a medical judgment that would be made by a
reasonably prudent physician, knowledgeable about the case and the treatment
possibilities with respect to the medical conditions involved;
(4) "Serious health risk to the unborn child's mother," a physician's reasonable medical
judgment that the mother of an unborn child has a medical condition that so
complicates her health that it necessitates the immediate abortion of her pregnancy
to avert her death or to avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical
impairment of a major bodily function, not including a psychological or emotional
condition. No greater risk may be determined to exist if it is based on a claim or
diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct which she intends to result in her
death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily
function;
(5) "Woman," a female human being whether or not she has reached the age of majority.
Section 3. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
It is a Class 6 felony to intentionally or recklessly perform, or attempt to perform, an
abortion unless the physician performing or attempting to perform the abortion first makes a
determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child, or relies on another
physician's determination of the probable post fertilization age of the unborn child. No penalty
may be assessed against the woman upon whom the abortion is performed, or attempted to be
performed.
Section 4. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
For purposes of this Act, an unborn child is capable of feeling pain when the physician
performing, or attempting to perform, the abortion or another physician upon whose
determination that physician relies, determines that the probable post-fertilization age of the
unborn child is twenty or more weeks.
In determining the post-fertilization age of the unborn child, the physician shall make
inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform medical examinations and tests that a reasonably
prudent physician would perform to accurately diagnose the post-fertilization age of an unborn
child.
Section 5. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
The provisions of sections 4 of this Act do not apply in a case when, in reasonable medical
judgment, a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother exists that so complicates the
medical condition of the pregnant woman that it necessitates the immediate abortion of her
pregnancy without first determining the post-fertilization age of the unborn child to avert her
death or for which the delay necessary to determine post-fertilization age will create serious risk
of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including a
psychological or emotional condition. No serious health risk may be deemed an exception if
based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct which she intends to result
in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.
Section 6. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read
as follows:
When an abortion of an unborn child capable of feeling pain is necessary to prevent serious
health risk to the unborn child's mother, the physician shall abort the pregnancy in the manner
which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to
survive, unless, in reasonable medical judgment, aborting the pregnancy in that manner would
pose a greater risk either of the death of the pregnant woman or of the substantial and
irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including a psychological or
emotional condition, of the woman than would other available methods. No greater risk may be
determined to exist if it is based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct
which she intends to result in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment
of a major bodily function.
Section 7. That § 34-23A-34 be amended to read as follows:
34-23A-34. The Department of Health shall prepare a reporting form for physicians which
shall provide for the collection of the following information:
(1) The month, day, and year of the induced abortion;
(2) The method of abortion used for each induced abortion;
(3) The approximate gestational age, in weeks, of the unborn child involved in the
abortion;
(4) The age of the mother at the time of the abortion and, if the mother was younger than
sixteen years of age at the time the child was conceived, the age of the father, if
known;
(5) The specific reason for the induced abortion, including the following:
(a) The pregnancy was a result of rape;
(b) The pregnancy was a result of incest;
(c) The mother could not afford the child;
(d) The mother did not desire to have the child;
(e) The mother's emotional health was at risk;
(f) The mother would suffer substantial and irreversible impairment of a major
bodily function if the pregnancy continued;
(g) Other, which shall be specified;
(6) Whether the induced abortion was paid for by:
(a) Private insurance;
(b) Public health plan;
(c) Other, which shall be specified;
(7) Whether coverage was under:
(a) A-fee-for-service insurance company;
(b) A managed care company; or
(c) Other, which shall be specified;
(8) A description of the complications, if any, for each abortion and for the aftermath of
each abortion;
(9) The fee collected for performing or treating the abortion;
(10) The type of anesthetic, if any, used for each induced abortion;
(11) The method used to dispose of fetal tissue and remains;
(12) The specialty area of the physician;
(13) Whether the physician performing the induced abortion has been subject to license
revocation or suspension or other professional sanction;
(14) The number of previous abortions the mother has had;
(15) The number of previous live births of the mother, including both living and deceased;
(16) The date last normal menses began for the mother;
(17) The name of physician performing the induced abortion;
(18) The name of hospital or physician office where the induced abortion was performed;
(19) A unique patient number that can be used to link the report to medical report for
inspection, clarification, and correction purposes but that cannot, of itself, reasonably
lead to the identification of any person obtaining an abortion;
(20) Certain demographic information including:
(a) State, county, and city of occurrence of abortion;
(b) State, county, and city of residence of mother;
(c) Marital status of mother;
(d) Education status of mother;
(e) Race and hispanic origin of mother;
(21) Certain Rhesus factor (Rh) information including:
(a) Whether the mother received the Rh test;
(b) Whether the mother tested positive for the Rh-negative factor;
(c) Whether the mother received a Rho(D) immune globulin injection; and
(22) The sex of the unborn child and the following information:
(a) Whether the pregnant mother used a sex-determining test;
(b) What type of sex-determining test the pregnant mother used; and
(c) The approximate gestational age of the unborn child, in weeks, when the test
was taken;
(23) The post-fertilization age of the unborn child and the following information:
(a) How the post-fertilization age was determined or if a determination was not
made, the basis of the determination that an exception existed;
(b) Whether an intra-fetal injection was used in an attempt to induce fetal demise;
(c) If the unborn child was deemed capable of experiencing pain, pursuant to
section 4 of this Act, the basis of the determination that a serious health risk
to the unborn child's mother exists;
(d) If the unborn child was deemed capable of experiencing pain pursuant to
section 4 of this Act, whether the method of the abortion used was that, in
reasonable medical judgment, provided the best opportunity for the unborn
child to survive and, if such a method was not used, the basis of the
determination that termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a
greater risk either of the death of the pregnant woman or of the substantial and
irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including a
psychological or emotional condition, of the woman than other available
methods.
Section 8. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Nothing in this Act repeals, by implication or otherwise, any provision not explicitly
repealed.
Section 9. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
If a part of this Act is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain
in effect. If a part of this Act is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in
effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.