SB12 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clay Scofield

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Abortion, physician required to perform ultrasound prior to performing abortion and display the images to the pregnant woman, medical emergency excepted, civil and criminal penalties, Right to Know and See Act

Summary

This bill would require physicians to perform an ultrasound and show and explain the images to a pregnant woman before an abortion, with penalties for violations and privacy protections in court.

What This Bill Does

It would require an obstetric ultrasound before abortion, with verbal explanation and display of the images to the pregnant woman, unless in a medical emergency. It would establish criminal penalties for violation and allow civil lawsuits for damages, including by the woman, the father, or grandparents. It would provide anonymity protections in court to safeguard the woman's identity. It would also specify that the act becomes effective after governor approval and include considerations about local funds under a constitutional amendment.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women seeking abortions, who would be shown ultrasound images, hear explanations, and have the option to view or not view the images, with privacy protections in court.
• Abortion providers and facilities, who would have to perform the ultrasound, explain and display the images, and could face criminal penalties and civil lawsuits for violations; they must certify medical emergencies when applicable.

Key Provisions

• Section 3 requires abortion providers or qualified technicians to perform an obstetric ultrasound, provide a verbal explanation, and display the images to the pregnant woman before consent and administration of anesthesia.
• Section 3 also requires a medical description of the ultrasound findings and allows the woman to avert her eyes without penalty if she declines to view the images.
• Section 4 provides a medical emergency exception to the ultrasound/display requirements and requires certification of the emergency; falsifying certification carries penalties.
• Section 5 makes violations of the act a Class C felony for the provider or facility; the woman is not penalized.
• Section 6 allows the father, grandparents, or the woman to file civil actions for actual and punitive damages against the person who performed or attempted the abortion in violation of the act, with attorney’s fees awarded to the prevailing party.
• Section 7 requires courts to consider anonymity protections for the woman in civil or criminal proceedings, including sealing records and using pseudonyms when consent for disclosure is not given.
• Section 9 notes the act is exempt from local-funds requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends the crime definition.
• Section 10 states when the act would become law (first day of the third month after governor’s approval).

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