Bill > HB195

This bill creates the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," which establishes legal protections and requirements for infants born alive during or after an abortion attempt. The bill mandates that any healthcare provider present at such a birth must provide the same professional medical care to the infant as they would for any other live-born child of the same gestational age, and must immediately transport the infant to a hospital. Healthcare providers who fail to report violations of these requirements can face criminal penalties, including up to five years in prison and fines between $2,500 and $10,000. The bill also establishes that killing a child born alive during an abortion attempt is considered first-degree murder, and creates civil liability for individuals who cause the death of such an infant or fail to comply with the law's provisions. Additionally, the legislation allows for civil actions to be brought by family members in cases of injury or death, with potential damages including loss of future fertility, loss of companionship, and attorney's fees. The bill explicitly states that consent to an abortion or self-induced abortion cannot be used as a defense in such legal actions, and emphasizes that any agreements related to such procedures are void as a matter of public policy.