Bills · 2013-2014 Regular Session
Relating to: civil liability for performing a sex-selective abortion, and providing a penalty. (FE)
Abortion Court — Procedure Damage _personal injury_ Discrimination Family — Support Privacy
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
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.
What it would cost
Fiscal estimates filed by state agencies, as official PDFs
Sponsors
Introduced by: Farrow (R) , Grothman (R) , Kedzie (R) , Lazich (R) , Leibham (R) , Schultz (R)
22 cosponsors
A. Ott (R) , Ballweg (R) , Bernier (R) , Born (R) , Brooks (R) , Craig (R) , Endsley (R) , Jacque (R) , Kaufert (R) , Kestell (R) , Kleefisch (R) , Kooyenga (R) , LeMahieu (R) , Marklein (R) , Nass (R) , Pridemore (R) , Ripp (R) , Sanfelippo (R) , Severson (R) , T. Larson (R) , Thiesfeldt (R) , Tittl (R)
Votes
Senate: Report passage recommended by Committee on Health and Human Services, Ayes 3, Noes 2
Passed 3–2 Nov 7, 2013 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- May 30, 2013 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Leibham, Lazich, Grothman, Schultz, Farrow and Kedzie; cosponsored by Representatives Kestell, Jacque, Ballweg, Bernier, Born, Brooks, Craig, Endsley, Kaufert, Kleefisch, Kooyenga, LeMahieu, Marklein, Nass, A. Ott, Pridemore, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Sanfelippo, Severson, T. Larson and Ripp
- May 30, 2013 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
- Jun 5, 2013 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jun 7, 2013 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Jun 11, 2013 · Senate
Fiscal estimate received
- Nov 7, 2013 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Nov 7, 2013 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Health and Human Services, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Nov 7, 2013 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 8, 2014 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1