SF 904

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/26/2015 03:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; creating the Born Alive Infants Protection Act; providing
for civil remedies and protections; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section
145.423.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 145.423, is amended to read:

145.423 ABORTION; LIVE BIRTHS.

Subdivision 1.

Recognition; medical care.

A deleted text begin live child born deleted text end new text begin born alive infant new text end as a
result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person, and accorded immediate
protection under the law. All reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice,
including the compilation of appropriate medical records, shall be taken new text begin by the responsible
medical personnel new text end to preserve the life and health of the deleted text begin child deleted text end new text begin born alive infant new text end .

Subd. 2.

Physician required.

When an abortion is performed after the twentieth
week of pregnancy, a physician, other than the physician performing the abortion, shall
be immediately accessible to take all reasonable measures consistent with good medical
practice, including the compilation of appropriate medical records, to preserve the life and
health of any deleted text begin live birth deleted text end new text begin born alive infant new text end that is the result of the abortion.

Subd. 3.

Death.

If a deleted text begin child deleted text end new text begin born alive infant new text end described in subdivision 1 dies after
birth, the body shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of section 145.1621.

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Definition of born alive infant. new text end

new text begin (a) In determining the meaning of
any Minnesota statute, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various
administrative bureaus and agencies of Minnesota, the words "person," "human being,"
"child," and "individual" shall include every infant member of the species Homo sapiens
who is born alive at any stage of development.
new text end

new text begin (b) As used in this section, the term "born alive," with respect to a member of the
species Homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother
of that member, at any stage of development, who, after such expulsion or extraction,
breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of
voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless
of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of a natural or induced labor,
cesarean section, or induced abortion.
new text end

new text begin (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affirm, deny, expand, or contract any
legal status or legal right applicable to any member of the species Homo sapiens at any
point prior to being born alive, as defined in this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Civil and disciplinary actions. new text end

new text begin (a) Any person upon whom an abortion
has been performed, or the parent or guardian of the mother if the mother is a minor,
and the abortion results in the infant having been born alive, may maintain an action for
death of or injury to the born alive infant against the person who performed the abortion
if the death or injury was a result of simple negligence, gross negligence, wantonness,
willfulness, intentional conduct, or another violation of the legal standard of care.
new text end

new text begin (b) If judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff in any action described in
paragraph (a), the court shall also render judgment for reasonable attorney fees in favor of
the plaintiff against the defendant. If judgment is rendered in favor of the defendant and the
court finds that the plaintiff's suit was frivolous and brought in bad faith, the court shall also
render judgment for reasonable attorney fees in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any responsible medical personnel that does not take all reasonable measures
consistent with good medical practice to preserve the life and health of the born alive
infant, as required by subdivision 1, may be subject to the suspension or revocation of that
person's professional license by the professional board with authority over that person.
Any person who has performed an abortion and against whom judgment has been rendered
pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be subject to an automatic suspension of the person's
professional license for at least one year and said license shall be reinstated only after the
person's professional board requires compliance with this section by all board licensees.
new text end

new text begin (d) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to hold the mother of the born alive
infant criminally or civilly liable for the actions of a physician, nurse, or other licensed
health care provider in violation of this section to which the mother did not give her consent.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Protection of privacy in court proceedings. new text end

new text begin In every civil action
brought under this section, the court shall rule whether the anonymity of any female
upon whom an abortion has been performed or attempted shall be preserved from public
disclosure if she does not give her consent to such disclosure. The court, upon motion or
sua sponte, shall make such a ruling and, upon determining that her anonymity should
be preserved, shall issue orders to the parties, witnesses, and counsel and shall direct the
sealing of the record and exclusion of individuals from courtrooms or hearing rooms to
the extent necessary to safeguard her identity from public disclosure. Each order must be
accompanied by specific written findings explaining why the anonymity of the female
should be preserved from public disclosure, why the order is essential to that end, how the
order is narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and why no reasonable, less restrictive
alternative exists. This section may not be construed to conceal the identity of the plaintiff
or of witnesses from the defendant.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Status of born alive infant. new text end

new text begin Unless the abortion is performed to save the
life of the woman or fetus, or, unless one or both of the parents of the born alive infant
agree within 30 days of the birth to accept the parental rights and responsibilities for the
child, the child shall be an abandoned ward of the state and the parents shall have no
parental rights or obligations as if the parental rights had been terminated pursuant to
section 260C.301. The child shall be provided for pursuant to chapter 256J.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Short title. new text end

new text begin This act may be cited as the "Born Alive Infants Protection Act."
new text end