WEST virginia legislature

2018 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Joint Resolution 12

By Senators Rucker, Arvon, Azinger, Blair, Boley, Boso, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Karnes, Mann, Maynard, Smith, Swope, Sypolt, and Maroney

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; Reported on February 6, 2018]

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending article VI thereof, by adding thereto a new section, designated section 57, relating to clarifying that nothing in the Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion, and nothing in the Constitution requires the funding of an abortion; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:

That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2018, which proposed amendment is that article VI thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section 57, to read as follows:

ARTICLE VI.  THE LEGISLATURE.

§57.  No constitutional right to abortion.

 Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.

Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of §3-11-1 et seq. of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No. 1” and designated as “No Constitutional right to abortion Amendment”, and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “To amend the West Virginia Constitution to clarify that nothing in the Constitution of West Virginia secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion”.