HB 10-1261 Summary

• Creates new crimes of murder of an unborn child (Class 1 felony) and voluntary manslaughter of an unborn child (Class 3 felony) in Colorado law.

• Defines "unborn child" as a child whose stage of development has reached or surpassed 16 weeks in utero.

• Exempts from these crimes acts committed during legal abortion with consent, acts by a pregnant woman with respect to her own unborn child, standard medical diagnostic or therapeutic practices, and lawful self-defense.

• Allows prosecution for these new crimes without barring prosecution or conviction for any other crime committed as part of the same conduct.

• Makes statutory appropriations to the Corrections Expansion Reserve Fund for fiscal years 2010-2014 to implement the bill, with amounts to be determined.