2015 -- H 5659

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LC001192

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - SPOUSAL NOTICE FOR ABORTION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Blazejewski, Craven, Regunberg, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-4.8 of the General Laws entitled "Spousal Notice for Abortion"

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is hereby repealed in its entirety.

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CHAPTER 23-4.8

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Spousal Notice for Abortion

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     23-4.8-1. Declaration of purpose. -- The purpose of this chapter is to promote the state's

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interest in furthering the integrity of the institutions of marriage and the family.

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     23-4.8-2. Spousal notice requirements. -- If a married woman consents to an abortion,

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as that consent is required by chapter 4.7 of this title, the physician who is to perform the abortion

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or his or her authorized agent shall, if reasonably possible, notify the husband of that woman of

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the proposed abortion before it is performed.

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     23-4.8-3. Exceptions. -- The requirements of § 23-4.8-2 shall not apply if:

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      (1) The woman having the abortion furnishes to the physician who is to perform the

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abortion or the physician's authorized agent prior to the abortion being performed a written

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statement that she has given notice to her husband of the proposed abortion or a written statement

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that the fetus was not fathered by her husband;

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      (2) The woman and her husband are living separate and apart or either spouse has filed a

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petition or complaint for divorce in a court of competent jurisdiction;

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      (3) The physician who is to perform the abortion or his or her authorized agent receives

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the written affirmation of the husband that he has been notified of the proposed abortion; or

 

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      (4) There is an emergency requiring immediate action. In the case of an emergency, the

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woman's attending physician shall certify in writing on the patient's medical record that an

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emergency exists and the medical basis for his or her opinion.

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     23-4.8-4. Penalties. -- In the event a physician performs an abortion, as defined by

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chapter 4.7 of this title, upon a woman who he or she knows is married and the physician

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knowingly and intentionally violates the requirements of this chapter, he or she shall be guilty of

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"unprofessional conduct" for the purposes of § 5-37-5.1.

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     23-4.8-5. Severability. -- If any section or provision of this chapter or the application of

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any section or provision is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other sections, provisions

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or applications, and to this end the sections and provisions of this chapter are declared severable.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - SPOUSAL NOTICE FOR ABORTION

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     This act would repeal the requirement that physicians performing abortions notify the

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husband of the patient before the abortion is performed.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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