HB2460 Summary

• Enacts the "Healthcare Freedom of Conscience Act" to protect healthcare providers, institutions, and payers from discrimination based on refusal to participate in procedures violating their conscience, including abortion, artificial birth control, euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide.

• Prohibits civil, criminal, or administrative liability for healthcare providers who decline to participate in conscience-violating services and makes discrimination against them unlawful, including termination, demotion, loss of privileges, or denial of certification.

• Extends protections to healthcare institutions and payers, allowing them to refuse participation in conscience-violating services without liability or discrimination, provided institutions obtain patient consent forms before admission.

• Authorizes private civil actions for violations with damages of at least $5,000 per violation plus treble damages, costs, and attorney fees; allows courts to grant injunctive relief including reinstatement of terminated employees.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2012.