Ultrasound prior to abortion. (SB53)
Introduced By
Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) with support from 8 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:
Those copatrons are Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), Del. Kaye Kory (D-Falls Church), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News), Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Sen. Janet Howell (D-Reston), Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg)
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 fetal transabdominal ultrasound prior to an abortion. Read the Bill »
Status
01/28/2016: Failed to Pass in Committee
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
12/16/2015 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101021D |
12/16/2015 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/15/2016 | Impact statement from VDH (SB53) |
01/28/2016 | Continued to 2017 in Education and Health (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this legislation because 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, and health care decisions are best made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly opposes this bill. The attacks on Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers are part of a broad and consistent pattern by anti-abortion extremists to interfere with women's personal decision-making and block access to abortion and reproductive health care. These politically motivated attacks on women's health and the providers we rely on are a distraction from the real issues. Across Virginia, communities are calling for more access to reproductive health care, not less, greater economic security, and the ability to support and protect their families. Those are the priorities our elected representatives should be focused on.
Support this bill, please.