HB 1196 Summary

• Prohibits abortion of an unborn human individual with a detectable fetal heartbeat except when a medical emergency exists that endangers the pregnant woman's life or major bodily function.

• Requires physicians to determine presence of fetal heartbeat before performing abortion using standard medical practice; physician must document medical emergency in patient records if exception is invoked.

• Requires written notification to pregnant woman at least 24 hours before abortion if fetal heartbeat is detected, including statistical probability of bringing pregnancy to term based on gestational age; pregnant woman must sign acknowledgment form.

• Makes performing abortion on pregnant woman before determining fetal heartbeat presence subject to physician license revocation or disciplinary action under existing medical practice laws.

• Authorizes State Board of Health to promulgate rules for appropriate methods of fetal heartbeat examination and to define statistical probability of pregnancy survival by gestational age; effective July 1, 2012.