Signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires a three day waiting period prior to receiving two-step pharmaceutical abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Highlights:

• Defines "Chemical abortion" as the use, provision, prescription, or dispensation of a medicine, drug, or any other substance used, provided, prescribed, or dispensed with the intent of terminating the clinically diagnosable pregnancy of a woman, with knowledge that the termination will with reasonable likelihood cause the death of the unborn child (Sec. 1).

• Requires physicians to get the fully informed and voluntary consent of women before providing them with medication to chemically induce an abortion and states that consent is informed and voluntary only if 72 hours before providing the medication, the physicain does the following (Sec. 1):

• Determines the gestational age of the fetus through the use of the patient’s history and ultrasound imagine and informed the patient of the age; 

• Gives the patient details of the chemical abortion regimen to be folowed; 

• Gives the patient a detailed list of the complications of using the chemical abortion regimen; 

• Gives the patient information about Rh incompatibility and suggested ways to mitigate it such as through the use of an Rh immunoglobolin injection at the time of the abortion to prevent complications in future pregancies; 

• Informs the patient that the risk of complications increases as the gestational age of the fetus increases; 

• Gives the patient information on reversing a chemical abortion, but informs the patient that time is of the essence; 

• Provides information about post-abortion care; and 

• Provides information on how to schedule post-abortion medical visits to ensure that the abortion is complete, see whether additional procedures or care are needed, and assess bleeding and other abortion related complications.

• Requires the Department of Health to create an individual reporting form to distribute to healthcare providers that has the following information (Sec. 1):

• The date of the chemical abortion; 

• The specific chemical abortion regime used; 

• The probable gestational age of the unborn child; 

• The age of the pregnant woman at the time the abortion was performed; 

• The pregnant woman’s state and county or resident;

• Whether before receiving the abortion the woman received any counseling regarding the risks and complications associated with chemical abortions; 

•  The specific reasons for the abortion

• The number of prior pregnancies and abortions the pregnant woman has had; 

• Whether private insurance or public coverage or individual finances was used to pay for the abortion; and

• Complications from the chemical abortion.

• Specifies that failure to abide by the provisions of the act will result in a Class A misdemeanor charge (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text