Mayer: Legislature Sends Two Bills Preventing Late-Term Abortions to the Governor

Senate Bill 65 & HB213 Protects Viable Fetuses of 20 Weeks or More

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri General Assembly today advanced two identical measures to the governor’s desk for his consideration. Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, sponsored the Senate bill and handled the House bill that would change provisions relating to abortions in Missouri with respect to viability. Senate Bill 65 and House Bill 213 would prevent the abortion of unborn babies of the gestational age of 20 weeks or more that are determined by a physician to be viable outside of the womb.

“This measure is particularly important to me in that it serves to ensure that babies capable of sustaining life outside of the womb are not subject to such an unnecessary and horrific end to their life,” said Mayer.

The legislation would, with the exception of a medical emergency, require the physician to determine the gestational age of the unborn child before performing an abortion. If the doctor determines the baby is 20 weeks or more, the physician would test for viability. If viable, no abortion could be performed unless it is necessary to preserve the life of the woman.

If the unborn child is 20 weeks or more, not determined viable, and an abortion is performed, the bill requires the doctor to submit a report to the Department of Health and Senior Services.

“At 20 weeks, a baby is approximately the length of a banana, she can hear sounds and even covers her ears with her hands if things are too noisy, and her twisting, turning, punching and kicking movements can start to be felt by the mother,” said Mayer. “State law already requires mothers to be informed about other alternatives to abortion. These bills go further by preventing an abortion from being performed later in the gestation period if the unborn baby is able to live outside the womb.”

Penalties for violating the provisions of this bill would include a Class C felony, and physicians who plead guilty to or are convicted of performing or inducing an abortion in violation of this act could be subject to having their license to practice medicine in Missouri suspended for three years. Also, any hospital or ambulatory surgical center that knowingly violates this act could be subject to suspension or revocation of its license.

Both bills now move to the governor’s desk for his consideration.