Signed by Governor Greg Abbott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes requirements for abortions that result in premature birth.

Highlights:

• Specifies that a physician-patient relationship is established between a child who is alive when removed from the uterus of a patient after an attempted abortion (Sec. 2).

• Requires the physician who performed or attempted to perform the abortion to exercise the same degree of professional care to preserve the life and health of the child as they would any other child of the same gestational age (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a physician who violates the above highlight by failing to provide the appropriate medical treatment to the child, will be liable for a civil penalty of no less than $100,000, and the attorney general is authorized to bring a suit against the physician in order to collect the penalty (Sec. 2).

• Classifies the failure of a physician or health care practitioner to provide the appropriate medical treatment to the child, as a felony of the third degree (Sec. 2).

• Requires an individual with knowledge of a failure to comply with this provision, to report said instance to the attorney general, specifying that the identity of the reporter will remain anonymous (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text