HB0633 O'Connor, Patrick et al

C O M M I T T E E

HB 633, HCA 1 -- ABORTION

SPONSOR: O'Connor

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 13 to

This bill requires all abortions performed before the fourteenth week of the gestation period to be done in a physician's office, outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical center or hospital; after fourteen weeks they must be done in an ambulatory surgical center or a hospital; and after 18 weeks they must be done in a hospital. The bill also says that a physician performing an abortion cannot leave the abortion facility or hospital until the patient has been discharged, unless another physician is present to care for the patient. Before a physician can perform an abortion the physician must provide proof of malpractice insurance or self insurance to the Department of Insurance.

In case of a medical emergency an abortion may be performed without meeting the criteria established in the bill.

HCA 1 -- makes all records received by the Department of Insurance confidential, but available to abortion facilities and hospitals in which a physician may perform or has performed abortions; local, state or national public health, insurance or law enforcement officials; parties to a law suit; or courts of competent jurisdiction.

FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Net Cost to Insurance Dedicated Fund of $24,887 in FY 96, $24,466 in FY 97, & $25,092 in FY 98.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill would ensure that abortions performed after certain gestation periods would be done in a facility that is equipped to handle any type of complications or emergencies that could arise.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives O'Connor, Gratz, and Cierpiot; Campaign Life Missouri; Missouri Right to Life; and the Missouri Family Network.

OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this bill does nothing to improve safety of abortions. Currently, it is very difficult to have an abortion performed in a hospital unless the pregnancy is life threatening to the mother. They also say that this bill is discriminatory to the physicians who perform abortions by making them carry mandatory malpractice insurance.

Testifying against the bill was Planned Parenthood.

Bob Dominique, Research Analyst