HB1686
To Create The Arkansas Chemical Abortions Ban Act.
Last Action (May 1, 2023): Died in House Committee at Sine Die Adjournment
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1686, titled the 'Arkansas Chemical Abortions Ban Act,' aims to prohibit the use, prescription, distribution, or sale of any drug for the purpose of inducing an abortion. The bill defines an abortion as any act intended to terminate a pregnancy, with specified exclusions for medical procedures intended to save the life of an unborn child, remove a dead fetus from a spontaneous miscarriage, or address an ectopic pregnancy. It also excludes contraceptive agents used prior to conception or confirmation of pregnancy. Violations of the act are classified as a Class D felony for the individual performing or prescribing the abortion. The bill explicitly stipulates that the pregnant woman upon whom the abortion is performed or attempted cannot be subject to criminal prosecution under this statute. The legislation establishes legal definitions for terms such as 'abortion,' 'fertilization,' 'medical emergency,' and 'unborn child.'
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are individuals and organizations that advocate for the legal protection of unborn children from the point of fertilization, as well as religious and political groups that support restrictive abortion legislation. The bill is designed to uphold the stated objective of promoting life by prohibiting chemical abortion methods.
Who Might Suffer?
Individuals seeking to terminate a pregnancy via medical/chemical means are negatively impacted as this option would be legally prohibited under state law. Additionally, medical professionals, pharmacists, and healthcare providers who prescribe or distribute such medications would face potential legal consequences, including the possibility of a Class D felony charge.
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