2014 -- S 2715

========

LC004677

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

     Introduced By: Senators Cool Rumsey, Miller, Nesselbush, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 4.13

GOVERNMENT NONINTERFERENCE IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

     23-4.13-1. Noninterference in reproductive health care. -- (a) Neither the state nor

any of its political subdivisions shall interfere with a woman’s personal decision to prevent,

commence, or continue a pregnancy, or to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; nor shall

the state or any of its political subdivisions interfere in the third trimester of the pregnancy if such

termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman. Nor shall the state or any of

its political subdivisions restrict the use of medically appropriate methods of contraception or

abortion or the manner in which medically appropriate contraception or abortion is provided.

(b) For purposes of this section, “fetal viability” means that stage when, in the medical

judgment of the attending physician, based on the particular facts of the case before the physician,

there is a reasonable likelihood of the fetus’ sustained survival outside the womb.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall affect the parental consent provisions of § 23-

4.7-6; or the exemption for non-participation as afforded under § 23-17-11.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004677

========

LC004677 - Page 2 of 2

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

***

     This act would prohibit the state from interfering with certain personal decisions of a

woman regarding pregnancy, including her decision to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal

viability or at any time if such termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.

This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004677

========

LC004677 - Page 3 of 2