Abortion; removes requirement that woman undergo transabdominal ultrasound. (SB617)

Introduced By

Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) with support from co-patrons Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), and Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Ultrasound prior to abortion. Removes the requirement that a woman undergo a transabdominal ultrasound prior to an abortion. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/15/2014Presented and ordered printed 14103482D
01/15/2014Referred to Committee on Education and Health
01/28/2014Assigned Education sub: Health Care
02/06/2014Reported from Education and Health (9-Y 5-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
02/07/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
02/10/2014Read second time and engrossed
02/11/2014Read third time and defeated by Senate (18-Y 22-N)
02/11/2014Reconsideration of defeated action agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)
02/11/2014Passed Senate (20-Y 20-N)
02/11/2014Chair votes yes
02/11/2014Unanimous Reconsideration of passage rejected by Senate (37-Y 1-N)
02/13/2014Placed on Calendar
02/13/2014Read first time
02/13/2014Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/13/2014Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law
02/14/2014Subcommittee recommends laying on the table
03/04/2014Left in Courts of Justice

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 15 minutes.

Comments

ACLU-VA Women's Rights and Reproductive Freedom, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia supports this bill because it seeks to repeal the law passed in 2012 requiring that a woman undergo an ultrasound 24 hours prior to an abortion. The mandatory ultrasound law is intended to shame, judge, and make a woman change her mind by requiring doctors to provide the woman with the option to view the ultrasound image and hear the heartbeat. Requiring an ultrasound before abortion is about political interference, not informed consent. Information should not be provided with the intent or result of shaming, judging, or making a woman change her mind. Health care decisions are best made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians.

Fred Costello writes:

DNA tests show that the fetus is a separate human being; therefore, abortion kills a human being. If you vote for this bill, you are voting to kill human beings – 28,000 per year in Virginia. Eventually, you will be held accountable.

Danuta writes:

Thank you for caring about women's lives. Sometimes it feels like Virginia does not love us and that we should find a state that believes in our humanity as living born beings. Thank you

Kim Whittington writes:

Repeal this law. Repeal all of the TRAP legislation written to erect barriers to safe, legal abortion care.