H. B. 3187
(By Delegate D. Poling)
[Introduced March 17, 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
prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Resources from
being involved in aiding or assisting any person to obtain an
abortion to a greater extent than is required by law; and
prescribing criminal penalties for violations of the section.
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. Department of Health and Human Resources involvement in
abortions limited; penalty.
The Department of Health and Human Resources is prohibited
from being involved in aiding or assisting any person to obtain an abortion to a greater extent than is required by law. Any
employee, agent or contractor of the Department of Health and Human
Resources who violates the requirements of this section is guilty
of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. Nothing in this section
shall be construed or interpreted to endorse, allow, permit or
approve of any abortion.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the Department
of Health and Human Resources from being involved in aiding or
assisting any person to obtain an abortion to a greater extent than
is required by law and to prescribe criminal penalties for
violations of the section.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.