S 399

Abstract

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STANDS FOR LIFE ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 41, TITLE 44 SO AS TO REQUIRE TESTING FOR A DETECTABLE FETAL HEARTBEAT BEFORE AN ABORTION IS PERFORMED ON A PREGNANT WOMEN AND TO PROHIBIT THE PERFORMANCE OF AN ABORTION WHEN A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED, BOTH WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXCEPTIONS, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDKEEPING BY PHYSICIANS PERFORMING ABORTIONS, TO CREATE A CIVIL ACTION FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN UPON WHOM AN ABORTION IS PERFORMED, TO CREATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 44-41-460, RELATING TO REQUIRED REPORTING OF ABORTION DATA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL, SO AS TO ADD REPORTING OF FETAL HEARTBEAT TESTING AND PATIENT MEDICAL CONDITION DATA; TO AMEND SECTION 44-41-330, RELATING TO A PREGNANT WOMAN'S RIGHT TO KNOW CERTAIN PREGNANCY INFORMATION, SO AS TO REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF THE DETECTION OF A FETAL HEARTBEAT; BY ADDING ARTICLE 8 TO CHAPTER 41, TITLE 44 SO AS TO PROHIBIT DISMEMBERMENT ABORTIONS, WITH EXCEPTIONS, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, TO PROVIDE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 41, TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ADDRESSING THE POSSIBILITY OF REVERSING THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL ABORTIONS APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE OFFICES AND FACILITIES IN WHICH ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED AND TO PHYSICIANS OF PATIENTS CONSIDERING A CHEMICAL ABORTION, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO PUBLISH PRINTED MATERIALS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REVERSING CERTAIN CHEMICAL ABORTIONS AND TO MAKE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PHYSICIANS WHO PRESCRIBE A CHEMICAL ABORTION PILL; TO CREATE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLE, TO CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR A WOMAN UPON WHOM A CHEMICAL ABORTION IS PERFORMED IN VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLE, WITH EXCEPTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-41-95 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IF ROE V. WADE IS OVERTURNED, ABORTION SHALL BECOME ILLEGAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.