H. B. 4685
(By Delegates Ellem, Boggs, Hall,
Overington
and Pino)
[Introduced
February 27, 2004
; 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 medical facilities that provide abortions to warn
women seeking an abortion of their increased risk of breast
cancer.
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. Requiring certain medical facilities which provide
abortions to warn women seeking an abortion of
increased risk of breast cancer prior to any
abortion procedures.
When a facility provides abortions, it ensures that women seeking an abortion are warned of their increased risk of breast
cancer, prior to any abortion procedures. Any facility or person
violating the requirements of this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less
than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.
Nothing contained in this section may be construed or interpreted
to endorse, allow, permit or approve of any abortion.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require medical
facilities that provide abortions to warn women seeking an abortion
of their increased risk of breast cancer. A criminal penalty is
provided for violations.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.