SB12-125: Crimes Against An Unborn Child

• Creates new Article 3.5 establishing six criminal offenses against pregnant women and unborn children: unlawful termination of pregnancy in the first through fourth degrees, vehicular unlawful termination of pregnancy, and aggravated vehicular unlawful termination of pregnancy, with penalties ranging from Class 5 to Class 1 felonies

• Excludes from prosecution any medical, surgical, mental health, dental, nursing, pharmaceutical, or hospital care providers who furnish services with the pregnant woman's consent, and prohibits prosecution of a woman for acts or failures to act regarding her own pregnancy

• Increases the penalty for criminal abortion (where the woman does not die) from a Class 4 felony to a Class 2 felony

• Makes conforming amendments to traffic and DUI statutes to include unlawful termination of pregnancy as a predicate offense for enhanced sentencing in repeat DUI violations and as a serious traffic violation

• Takes effect July 1, 2012, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date