SB 797

Under current law, a woman upon whom an abortion is to be performed or

induced must give voluntary and informed written consent to the abortion. Except

in a medical emergency, a woman's consent to an abortion is considered informed

only if, at least 24 hours before the abortion is performed or induced, the physician

or an assistant has, in person, orally provided the woman with certain information

and given to the woman certain written materials. Currently, if the pregnancy is the

result of sexual assault or incest, the 24-hour period, but not the provision of

information, may be waived or reduced under certain circumstances.

This bill adds to the requirements for consent to an abortion to be considered

informed that, at least 24 hours before the abortion is to be performed or induced, a

physician must show the woman a video that depicts an animation or other

illustration of the type of abortion procedure that is to be performed or induced. The

physician must show the video regardless of whether or not a medical emergency

exists and the requirement to show the video is not subject to the time waiver for

pregnancies resulting from sexual assault or incest. The bill requires that the

Department of Health Services, similarly to other materials provided for informed

consent, distribute copies of or provide access to videos that are approved by DHS by

rule. A physician may show or DHS may distribute existing videos that are approved

by DHS in lieu of videos created by DHS.