SB335 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Scott Beason

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Abortion, consent, information required prior to procedure, Sec. 26-23A-4 am'd.

Summary

It expands informed-consent rules for abortion in Alabama by adding more disclosures, a waiting period, and recordkeeping requirements.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the abortion consent law to require at least 24 hours’ notice and additional information disclosures, delivered in person or by certified mail with printed resources. It mandates that the physician share specific details about the abortion, the unborn child, gestational age/viability, alternatives, and the patient’s rights, including viewing an ultrasound and possibly a videotape, and it requires documentation that the patient received this information and gave consent. It also requires ultrasound viewing and sign-off, information about anti-Rh immune therapy if applicable, and retention of related records for at least four years; it states a patient cannot be forced to have an abortion and preserves her right to withdraw consent. The bill also specifies record-keeping duties for clinics and sets an effective date after passage.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women seeking abortion: must receive extensive disclosures, view ultrasound/video, and sign consent forms; have a mandated waiting period and rights not to be forced into abortion.
• Physicians and abortion providers: must deliver detailed information, perform ultrasound, provide the required materials, obtain signed acknowledgments, and ensure records are kept for the minimum time.
• Abortion facilities/medical records staff: responsible for retaining receipts, forms, and ultrasound records for at least four years.
• Information and support resources (agencies listed in materials): must be included in the information provided to patients.

Key Provisions

• Requires at least 24 hours’ notice before abortion and disclosure of information in person or via certified mail with printed materials listing resources and alternatives.
• Printed materials must list agencies offering assistance, adoption agencies, development of the unborn child, methods/risks of abortion and childbirth, father's obligations, and alternatives; mailing may be arranged by telephone.
• Before abortion, the physician or qualified person must inform the woman of the physician’s name, that abortion ends a living human being, the abortion method and risks/alternatives, the probable gestational age and characteristics of the unborn child, and viability considerations.
• If the unborn child is viable or >19 weeks, the patient is informed about survivability, life-preserving options, and the attending physician’s duty to protect a live-born child.
• Ultrasound must be performed before the abortion; the woman has the right to view it and must sign a form acknowledging she saw it or was offered and rejected viewing.
• The woman has the right to view any related videotape and ultrasound as described in a separate section (26-23A-6).
• Information on anti-Rh immune globulin therapy and consequences of refusing it must be provided if applicable.
• The woman cannot be forced to have an abortion and may withdraw consent without losing future medical care or benefits.
• The woman must sign a form confirming receipt of information and consent for the abortion; the physician/agency must obtain a signed receipt 24 hours before the procedure if mail was used.
• The abortion facility must keep the signed receipt, forms, and ultrasound in the woman’s medical file for at least four years.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Abortion