Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits an individual from knowingly coercing a pregnant woman to get an abortion.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an individual from using any of the following methods to knowingly coerce a pregnant woman to get an abortion (Sec. 1):
• By committing, attempting to, or threatening to commit an assaultive or stalking crime;
• By discontinuing, attempting to, or threatening to discontinue support that the individual must legally provide or reducing that support to a level below their legal responsibility to provide;
• By withdrawing, attempting to, or threatening to withdraw from a contract or agreement previously entered into where the pregnant woman is a party or beneficiary; and
• By discharging or threatening to discharge a pregnant woman from employment.

• Specifies that any statement or act, including inaction,  that clearly demonstrates unwillingness to comply with a request or demand for abortion are indicators that an individual does not want to have an abortion (Sec. 1).

• Classifies a violation of this bill as a misdemeanor except for violations that include stalking or the commission or attempt to commit an assaultive crime which will be punished in the same manner as the underlying violation (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the following fines for an individual who commits a misdemeanor violation of this bill (Sec. 1):
• A fine of no more than $5,000; or
• A fine of no more than $10,000 if the individual who knowingly coerces the pregnant individual is the father of the fetus and is at least 18 years old, and the pregnant individual is less than 18 years old.

• Defines “threaten” as making 2 or more statements, or engaging in a “course of conduct,” that would cause a reasonable individual to believe that the individual is likely to act in accordance with the statements or the course of conduct (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text