HB376 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Abortion, Alabama Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act, prohibits and punishes person performing unless necessary to prevent serious health risk to mother

Summary

HB376 would ban dismemberment abortions unless necessary to protect the mother’s serious health risk, and create penalties, civil remedies, and court procedures to enforce the ban.

What This Bill Does

It makes performing or attempting a dismemberment abortion unlawful unless there is a serious health risk to the mother, and it sets criminal penalties and civil damages for violations. It creates a process for a hearing before the State Board of Medical Examiners to determine whether the abortion was necessary, allows injunctive relief and civil damages for specified parties, and provides attorney-fee rules and anonymity protections in court. It also notes that the bill creates a new crime for local-funding purposes and specifies when it becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Physicians and other health care providers who perform or attempt dismemberment abortions, who would face the ban, potential criminal penalties, civil damages, injunctive relief, and required hearings.
• Pregnant women and their immediate family (spouse, parents, or guardian) who could be plaintiffs in civil actions, with protections for the woman's anonymity in court and limits on liability for those other than the performing physician.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits performing or attempting a dismemberment abortion unless necessary to prevent serious health risk to the mother of the unborn child, and defines key terms such as dismemberment abortion, attempt to perform, and serious health risk.
• Provides for a hearing before the State Board of Medical Examiners to determine necessity, allows injunctive relief and civil damages (including triple the cost of the abortion), imposes criminal penalties ($10,000 fine or up to 2 years in jail), and includes anonymity protections in court proceedings; states the act becomes law after governor approval and is exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime.

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