H. B. 2313
(By Delegate Ellem)
[Introduced February 12, 2009; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding
thereto a new section, designated §33-42-9, relating to requiring that
every woman seeking an abortion be given the opportunity to see an
ultrasound image of the fetus; prescribing a criminal penalty for violations
of the section; and providing nothing in the section that can be construed
as approving of abortion.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a
new section, designated §33-42-9, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 42. WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ACT.
§33-42-9. Requirement that woman seeking abortion be given
opportunity to see ultrasound image of fetus.
Before any medical practitioner may perform an abortion, he or she shall
afford the woman seeking the abortion an opportunity to view an ultrasound image
of her unborn child. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less
than $50 nor more than $100. Nothing contained in this section may be construed
or interpreted to endorse, allow, permit or approve of abortion.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require every woman seeking an abortion to
be given the opportunity to see an ultrasound image of the fetus. The bill also
prescribes a criminal penalty for violations of the section. It also provides
that nothing in the section can be construed as approving of abortion.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law,
and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.