HB18 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kerry Rich

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Abortion, prohibited on or after 20 weeks postfertilization, exceptions for health of mother, Legislative findings regarding pain felt by unborn child, reports to Office of Vital Statistics, civil and criminal penalties, Alabama Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Sec. 22-9A-13 am'd. (2011-20570)

Summary

HB18 enacts the Alabama Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, banning elective abortions after 20 weeks postfertilization (with health or medical emergency exceptions) and adding age-determination, reporting, penalties, and privacy provisions.

What This Bill Does

It generally prohibits elective abortions after 20 weeks unless the mother’s health requires it or in a medical emergency. It requires the physician to determine the unborn child’s probable postfertilization age before performing or attempting an abortion, and treats failure to do so as unprofessional conduct. Violations by providers can lead to criminal penalties (Class C felony) and civil lawsuits, while women seeking abortions are not penalized. It also requires reporting of fetal deaths and induced terminations to the Office of Vital Statistics, with annual public aggregate reports and strong privacy protections for individuals involved.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women who might seek abortions after 20 weeks; they would be subject to the prohibition but are not to be penalized and have anonymity protections in court.
• Physicians, abortion providers, and health facilities; they must determine postfertilization age, file required reports, may face professional conduct issues, civil liability, and criminal penalties for violations.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits elective abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization, with exceptions for health of the woman or medical emergency.
• Requires physicians to determine the probable postfertilization age of the unborn child before performing or attempting an abortion; failure to comply constitutes unprofessional conduct.
• Violators may be guilty of a Class C felony; the woman receiving or undergoing the abortion is not penalized.
• Provides for civil damages and injunctive relief against violators; includes anonymity protections for women in court proceedings.
• Requires the Office of Vital Statistics to collect and publicly report aggregate data on induced terminations and related fetal deaths, with strict confidentiality and access controls.
• Defines key terms (abortion, postfertilization age, medical emergency, etc.) and includes severability and interconnection with existing abortion laws.
• Effective date provisions: general effectiveness three months after passage; certain reporting-related provisions take effect January 1, 2012.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Abortion