Two Pro-Life Bills Up for Possible Vote in the Ohio Legislature

 

Two pro-life bills in the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee will be heard this week. Chairman Dave Burke (R-Marysville) has scheduled Senate Bills 155 and 208 for their fourth hearings and for a possible vote.

Senate Bill 155 is sponsored by Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), which requires women who are given abortion-inducing medication, to be informed they can reverse the abortion process. If it becomes law, section 2317.56(C)(3) will state,

(3) Both of the following:
(a) Materials designed to inform the pregnant woman of the
possibility of reversing the effects of an abortion that
utilizes mifepristone if she changes her mind;
(b) Information on and assistance with the resources that
may be available to help reverse the effects of an abortion that
utilizes mifepristone.
The materials required under division (C)(3) of this
section shall be developed in accordance with rules that the
department shall adopt in accordance with section 111.15 of the
Revised Code.”

Also, the Ohio Department of Health will also be required to provide information about reversing a chemically-induced abortion on their website.

The analysis of the bill explains what the penalty will be for doctors who fail to abide by law: “Creates the crime of failure to disclose the reversibility of a mifespristone abortion, a first degree misdemeanor on a first offense and a fourth-degree felony on each subsequent offense. If the crime is committed, permits the pregnant woman to file a civil action for the wrongful death of the woman’s unborn child.”

Newly appointed Senator Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) sponsored Senate Bill 208 (SB 208). A doctor, Johnson replaced former Sen. Bill Uecker who resigned to take a position with the Ohio Department of Transportation at the end of August.

SB 208 would make it a crime to fail to save the life of a child who survives an abortion. The bill analysis says it, “Expands the crime of abortion manslaughter to include failure to take measures to preserve the health of a child born alive after abortion.” It also allows a woman to sue the person found guilty of “abortion manslaughter.”

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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star.  Follow Beth on Twitter.  Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Ohio Statehouse” by Alexander Smith. CC BY-SA 3.0.

 

 

 

 

 

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