HB 1345 Summary: Florida Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

• Prohibits abortion of unborn children at 20 or more weeks postfertilization age unless necessary to prevent serious health risk to the pregnant woman, based on legislative findings that unborn children can feel pain at 20 weeks.

• Requires physicians to determine probable postfertilization age before performing abortion (except in medical emergencies), using reasonable medical judgment and appropriate medical examinations and tests.

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

• Requires physicians to report abortion data to Department of Health beginning January 1, 2020, including postfertilization age, abortion method, mother's age and race, and whether ultrasound was used; reports must exclude identifying information about pregnant woman but include unique medical record identification number.

• Establishes criminal penalties (third-degree felony for intentional or reckless violations), civil remedies including damages and injunctive relief for women or fathers, and creates special litigation defense fund; effective July 1, 2019.