SB 278

  • Virginia Senate Bill
  • 2024 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Senate Jan 09, 2024
  • Senate
  • House
  • Governor

Virginia Abortion Care & Gender-Affirming Health Care Protection Act; established, civil penalties.

Abstract

Virginia Abortion Care and Gender-Affirming Health Care Protection Act; reproductive and gender-affirming health care services; prohibitions on extradition for certain crimes; civil penalties. Establishes the Virginia Abortion Care and Gender-Affirming Health Care Protection Act. The bill provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth that all persons are entitled to provide, receive, and help others provide or receive abortion care and gender-affirming health care services not prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth, and that such provision, receipt, and assistance is not diminished, chilled, or infringed by public or private actors.The bill provides that no law-enforcement officer acting in the Commonwealth or employed by the Commonwealth or any of its localities or political subdivisions may investigate, arrest, or detain any person, seek the issuance of a warrant, or otherwise assist in or provide support for any investigation regarding either the provision or receipt of abortion care or gender-affirming care not prohibited under the laws of the Commonwealth or any person's menstrual health data. The bill creates a private right of action for any person who is aggrieved by such unlawful investigation to obtain an injunction or other equitable relief against such law-enforcement officer.The bill also creates a private right of action for any person who sustains any injury, damages, or other harm resulting from another person who, under the law of a jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth, engages or attempts to engage in abusive litigation, as defined in the bill.The bill also provides that no demand for extradition of a person charged with a criminal violation of law of another state shall be recognized by the Governor if such alleged violation involves the receipt of or assistance with protected health care activity, as defined in the bill, within the Commonwealth unless the alleged criminal violation would also constitute a criminal offense under the laws of the Commonwealth.The bill provides that any subpoena under the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act or any summons for a witness for another state in a criminal case shall include an attestation, made under penalty of perjury, stating whether the subpoena or summons seeks documents, information, or testimony related to the provision, receipt, attempted provision or receipt, assistance in the provision or receipt, or attempted assistance in the provision or receipt of protected health care activity, as defined in the bill.

Bill Sponsors (2)

Votes


Actions


Jan 31, 2024

Senate

Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)

Jan 25, 2024

Senate

Rereferred from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

Senate

Rereferred to Courts of Justice

Jan 16, 2024

Senate

Assigned Education and Health Sub: Health Professions

Jan 10, 2024

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB278)

Jan 09, 2024

Senate

Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102762D

Senate

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24102762D PDF HTML

Related Documents

Document Format
Fiscal Impact Statement: SB278F160.PDF PDF

Sources

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