Substitute Senate Bill 145 Summary

• Criminalizes dismemberment abortion, defined as intentionally dismembering a living unborn child and extracting it piece-by-piece using clamps, forceps, or similar instruments with purpose of causing death, making it a felony of the fourth degree.

• Permits civil actions against those performing dismemberment abortions, allowing the pregnant woman, father of the child (if not conceived by rape), or parent of minor woman to recover compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.

• Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for civil actions related to dismemberment abortion and partial birth feticide violations.

• Exempts pregnant women, employees acting under direction of the person performing the procedure, pharmacists, and those providing materials from criminal liability for dismemberment abortion violations.

• Does not prohibit suction curettage or suction aspiration abortion procedures, and includes exceptions for abortions necessary to preserve the pregnant woman's life or physical health when endangered by serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.