AB 217

This bill creates a prohibition against knowingly performing a sex-selective

abortion. Under the bill, a sex-selective abortion is an abortion performed,

requested, or sought solely because of the sex of the unborn child.

Under the bill, the mother, father, or grandparent of an unborn child that is

aborted in a sex-selective abortion may sue the person who performed the abortion

for compensatory civil damages, including for emotional and psychological harm.

Under the bill, if a court awards compensatory damages, the person who performed

the abortion is also required to pay exemplary damages of $10,000 and the plaintiffs'

attorney fees.

Under the bill, the mother, father, or grandparent of an unborn child that is

aborted in a sex-selective abortion may also seek injunction relief, wherein the court

may enjoin the person who performed the abortion from performing another

sex-selective abortion. If the person violates the terms of the injunction, the bill

requires the court to hold the person in civil contempt of the order and requires the

person to pay a civil penalty of $10,000 for a first violation, $50,000 for a second

violation, and $100,000 for a third and for each subsequent violation.

The bill requires that a civil action seeking redress for a sex-selective abortion

be held privately, and that the names of all of the plaintiffs in the action be kept

confidential, unless the plaintiffs request that the proceedings be held in open court.