HB18 Alabama 2011 Session

This bill would prohibit elective abortions at and after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based upon medical assertions and legislative findings that an unborn child is capable of feeling pain

This bill would require a physician to determine the probable postfertilization age of an unborn child before performing or attempting to perform an abortion

This bill would prohibit any person from performing or attempting to perform an abortion on any unborn child with a postfertilization age of 20 weeks or more unless necessary to prevent the death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the woman

This bill would require every physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion to report to the State Department of Public Health and for the department to annually compile and issue a public report

This bill would provide civil remedies and criminal penalties for violations

This bill would provide for anonymity for women in court proceedings

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

To prohibit elective abortions at and after 20 weeks of pregnancy; to provide legislative findings regarding medical assertions that an unborn child is capable of feeling pain; to require a physician to determine the postfertilization age of an unborn child before performing or attempting to perform an abortion; to prohibit the abortion of any unborn child with a postfertilization age of 20 weeks or more, with certain exceptions relating to the health of the woman; to require physician reporting of abortions to the Department of Public Health; to require the department to annually issue a public report; to provide civil remedies and criminal penalties for violations; to provide for anonymity for women in court proceedings; to provide for construction with other laws; and in connection therewith to have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.