HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Delegates Ellis, Ryan, Stalnaker, Calvert,
Pulliam, Harrison and Preece)
(Introduced February 27, 1995 ; referred to the
Committee on Constitutinal Revision.)
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West
Virginia, amending article six thereof by adding thereto a
new section, designated section fifty-five, relating to
prohibiting state funding for abortions except when
necessary to save the life of the mother, or in cases of
rape and incest.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of
all 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 one thousand nine hundred ninety-six,
which proposed amendment is that article six thereof be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated section fifty-five,
to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI. THE LEGISLATURE.
§55. State funds for abortions prohibited and exceptions.
No public funds of this State shall be used to pay for
abortions, except when the procedure is necessary to save the
life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest, where the act
of rape or incest has been reported to a law-enforcement agencybefore the abortion is performed.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of
article eleven, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, such proposed
amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment No. 1" and designated as
the "Amendment prohibiting state funding for abortion except when
necessary to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or
incest" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized
as follows: "To amend the State Constitution to prohibit state
funding for abortion, except when necessary to save the life of
the mother or in cases of rape or incest, where the act of rape
or incest has been reported to a law-enforcement agency before
the abortion is performed."
NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to amend the State
Constitution to prohibit state funding for abortion, except when
necessary to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or
incest.
Article six, section fifty-five is new; therefore,
strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.