Senate Bill 547 Summary

• Prohibits abortion of an unborn child at 20 or more weeks postfertilization age unless necessary to prevent serious health risk to the mother, based on the assertion that unborn children can feel pain at that stage.

• Requires physicians to determine probable postfertilization age before performing abortion, except in medical emergencies or when removing a dead unborn child, using reasonable medical judgment including maternal inquiry and medical examinations.

• When abortion of a pain-capable unborn child is medically necessary, requires the physician to use the method providing the best opportunity for fetal survival unless that method would pose greater health risk to the mother.

• Mandates physician reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services beginning January 1, 2020, including postfertilization age, abortion method, mother's age and race, and basis for serious health risk determination; Department must publish annual statistics.

• Establishes criminal penalties (Class D felony), civil remedies including damages and injunctions for the woman or father, attorneys' fees, privacy protections for women in court proceedings, and a Litigation Defense Fund to cover legal costs.