HB 203 Summary: Florida Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

• Prohibits abortion of an unborn child at 20 or more weeks postfertilization age, except when necessary to prevent serious health risk to the pregnant woman's health.

• Requires physicians to determine probable postfertilization age through inquiry and medical examination before performing an abortion, unless a medical emergency exists.

• Mandates physicians use abortion methods providing the best opportunity for fetal survival when aborting a pain-capable unborn child, unless alternative methods would pose greater health risk to the mother.

• Requires physicians to report abortion data to the Department of Health beginning January 1, 2018, including postfertilization age, method used, and maternal demographics; reports must protect woman's identity with unique medical record numbers.

• Establishes criminal penalties (third-degree felony for violations), civil remedies including damages and injunctions, attorney fee awards, privacy protections for women in court proceedings, and a special litigation fund administered by the Department of Legal Affairs; effective July 1, 2017.