House Bill 2281 – Representative Thomas Morrison – PRO-LIFE BILL – It has been referred to Rules Committee.
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975. Provides that a person may not perform an abortion of a fetus solely because of the fetus’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, or diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome or any other disability. Provides that at least 18 hours before an abortion is performed on a pregnant woman whose fetus is diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly, the physician who will perform the abortion shall: (1) orally and in person, inform the pregnant woman of the availability of perinatal hospice services; and (2) provide the pregnant woman copies of the perinatal hospice brochure developed by the Department of Public Health and the list of perinatal hospice providers and programs by printing the perinatal hospice brochure and list of perinatal hospice providers from the Department’s Internet web site. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules within 90 days after the effective date of the bill to implement these provisions. Provides that the report of abortions submitted to the Department shall include the gender of the fetus, if detectable; and whether the fetus has been diagnosed with or has a potential diagnosis of having Down syndrome or any other disability. Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally performs an abortion in violation of these provisions may be subject to: (1) disciplinary sanctions under the Medical Practice Act of 1987; and (2) civil liability for wrongful death. Amends the Medical Practice Act of 1987 to make conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is unlawful discrimination under the Act to perform an abortion solely because of the race, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry of the fetus. Effective immediately.