HB16-1203: Women's Health Protection Act

• Requires all abortion clinics to be licensed by the Colorado Attorney General beginning January 1, 2017, with licenses valid for one year and renewable annually.

• Mandates Attorney General on-site inspections before licensure and relicensure, and applies same standards and procedures used for ambulatory surgical centers.

• Requires clinics to employ at least one physician with admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic and mandates that such physician remain on premises during all abortion procedures.

• Establishes detailed minimum standards for clinic physical facilities, equipment, personnel qualifications, patient screening and evaluation, abortion procedures, recovery room care, follow-up care, and incident reporting.

• Creates criminal penalties (misdemeanor fines of $50-$500) for operating without a license or recklessly violating the act, and civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation imposed by the Attorney General.