19 HB 481/AP House Bill 481 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Setzler of the 35th, Lott of the 122nd, Taylor of the 173rd, Bonner of the 72nd, Ehrhart of the 36th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1 To amend Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to persons 2 and their rights, so as to provide that natural persons include an unborn child; to provide that 3 such unborn children shall be included in certain population based determinations; to provide 4 definitions; to amend Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia 5 Annotated, relating to abortion, so as to provide definitions; to revise the time when an 6 abortion may be performed; to provide for exceptions; to provide for the requirements for 7 performing an abortion; to provide for a right of action and damages; to provide for 8 affirmative defenses; to amend Chapter 6 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia 9 Annotated, relating to alimony and child support, so as to provide a definition; to provide a 10 maximum support obligation for certain circumstances; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the 11 Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to parent and child relationship generally, so 12 as to provide that the right to recover for the full value of a child begins at the point when a 13 detectable human heartbeat exists; to amend Chapter 9A of Title 31 of the Official Code of 14 Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Woman's Right to Know Act," so as to provide for 15 advising women seeking an abortion of the presence of a detectable human heartbeat; to 16 provide for the content of certain notices; to repeal certain penalties; to amend Chapter 9B 17 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physician's obligation in 18 performance of abortions, so as to require physicians performing abortions to determine the 19 existence of a detectable human heartbeat before performing an abortion; to provide for the 20 reporting of certain information by physicians; to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official 21 Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to provide that an unborn child 22 with a detectable human heartbeat is a dependent minor for income tax purposes; to provide 23 for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide for standing to intervene 24 and defend constitutional challenges to this Act; to provide a short title; to provide for 25 severability; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. 26 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: H. B. 481 -1- 19 HB 481/AP 27 SECTION 1. 28 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Living Infants Fairness and Equality 29 (LIFE) Act." 30 31 SECTION 2. The General Assembly of Georgia makes the following findings: 32 (1) In the founding of the United States of America, the State of Georgia and the several 33 states affirmed that: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created 34 equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among 35 these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – that to secure these Rights, 36 Governments are instituted among men;" 37 (2) To protect the fundamental rights of all persons, and specifically to protect the 38 fundamental rights of particular classes of persons who had not previously been 39 recognized under law, the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, 40 providing that, "nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, 41 without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal 42 protection of the laws"; 43 (3) Modern medical science, not available decades ago, demonstrates that unborn 44 children are a class of living, distinct persons and more expansive state recognition of 45 unborn children as persons did not exist when Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) and 46 Roe v. Wade (1973) established abortion related precedents; 47 (4) The State of Georgia, applying reasoned judgment to the full body of modern medical 48 science, recognizes the benefits of providing full legal recognition to an unborn child 49 above the minimum requirements of federal law; 50 (5) Article I, Section I, Paragraphs I and II of the Constitution of the State of Georgia 51 affirm that "[n]o person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by due 52 process of law"; and that "[p]rotection to person and property is the paramount duty of 53 government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal 54 protection of the laws"; and 55 (6) It shall be the policy of the State of Georgia to recognize unborn children as natural 56 persons. 57 SECTION 3. 58 Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to persons and their 59 rights, is amended by revising Code Section 1-2-1, relating to classes of persons generally, 60 corporations deemed artificial persons, and nature of corporations generally, as follows: H. B. 481 -2- 19 HB 481/AP 61 "1-2-1. 62 (a) There are two classes of persons: natural and artificial. 63 (b) 'Natural person' means any human being including an unborn child. 64 (b)(c) Corporations are artificial persons. They are creatures of the law and, except insofar 65 as the law forbids it, they are subject to be changed, modified, or destroyed at the will of 66 their creator. 67 (d) Unless otherwise provided by law, any natural person, including an unborn child with 68 a detectable human heartbeat, shall be included in population based determinations. 69 (e) As used in this Code section, the term: 70 (1) 'Detectable human heartbeat' means embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady 71 and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac. 72 (2) 'Unborn child' means a member of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of 73 development who is carried in the womb." 74 SECTION 4. 75 Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to 76 abortion, is amended by revising Code Section 16-12-141, relating to restrictions on the 77 performance of abortions and availability of records, as follows: 78 "16-12-141. 79 (a) No abortion is authorized or shall be performed in violation of subsection (a) of Code 80 Section 31-9B-2. 81 (b)(1) No abortion is authorized or shall be performed after the first trimester unless the 82 abortion is performed in a licensed hospital, in a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or 83 in a health facility licensed as an abortion facility by the Department of Community 84 Health. 85 (2) An abortion shall only be performed by a physician licensed under Article 2 of 86 Chapter 34 of Title 43. 87 (c)(1)(a) As used in this article, the term: 88 (1) 'Abortion' means the act of using, prescribing, or administering any instrument, 89 substance, device, or other means with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy with 90 knowledge that termination will, with reasonable likelihood, cause the death of an unborn 91 child; provided, however, that any such act shall not be considered an abortion if the act 92 is performed with the purpose of: 93 (A) Removing a dead unborn child caused by spontaneous abortion; or 94 (B) Removing an ectopic pregnancy. 95 (2) 'Detectable human heartbeat' means embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady 96 and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac. H. B. 481 -3- 19 HB 481/AP 97 (3) 'Medical emergency' means a condition in which an abortion is necessary in order to 98 prevent the death of the pregnant woman or the substantial and irreversible physical 99 impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. No such greater risk shall 100 be deemed to exist if it is based on a diagnosis or claim of a mental or emotional 101 condition of the pregnant woman or that the pregnant woman will purposefully engage 102 in conduct which she intends to result in her death or in substantial and irreversible 103 physical impairment of a major bodily function. 104 (4) 'Medically futile' means that, in reasonable medical judgment, an unborn child has 105 a profound and irremediable congenital or chromosomal anomaly that is incompatible 106 with sustaining life after birth. 107 (5) 'Spontaneous abortion' means the naturally occurring death of an unborn child, 108 including a miscarriage or stillbirth. 109 (b) No abortion is authorized or shall be performed if the probable gestational age of the 110 an unborn child has been determined in accordance with Code Section 31-9B-2 to be 20 111 weeks or more unless the pregnancy is diagnosed as medically futile, as such term is 112 defined in Code Section 31-9B-1, or in reasonable medical judgment, the abortion is 113 necessary to have a detectable human heartbeat except when: 114 (A)(1) Avert the death of the pregnant woman or avert serious risk of substantial and 115 irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. No 116 such condition shall be deemed to exist if it is based on a diagnosis or claim of a mental 117 or emotional condition of the pregnant woman or that the pregnant woman will 118 purposefully engage in conduct which she intends to result in her death or in substantial 119 and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function A physician determines, 120 in reasonable medical judgment, that a medical emergency exists; or 121 (B)(2) Preserve the life of an unborn child The probable gestational age of the unborn 122 child is 20 weeks or less and the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest in which an 123 official police report has been filed alleging the offense of rape or incest. As used in this 124 paragraph, the term 'probable gestational age of the unborn child' has the meaning 125 provided by Code Section 31-9B-1; or 126 (3) A physician determines, in reasonable medical judgment, that the pregnancy is 127 medically futile. 128 As used in this paragraph, the term 'probable gestational age of the unborn child' has the 129 meaning provided by Code Section 31-9B-1. 130 (2) In any case described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, 131 the physician shall terminate the pregnancy in the manner which, in reasonable medical 132 judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive unless, in 133 reasonable medical judgment, termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose H. B. 481 -4- 19 HB 481/AP 134 a greater risk either of the death of the pregnant woman or of the substantial and 135 irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman than 136 would another available method. No such greater risk shall be deemed to exist if it is 137 based on a diagnosis or claim of a mental or emotional condition of the pregnant woman 138 or that the pregnant woman will purposefully engage in conduct which she intends to 139 result in her death or in substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily 140 function. If the child is capable of sustained life, medical aid then available must be 141 rendered. 142 (c) In conducting an abortion, if the child is capable of sustained life, medical aid then 143 available shall be rendered. 144 (d) No abortion is authorized or shall be performed in violation of subsection (a) of Code 145 Section 31-9B-2. 146 (e)(1) No abortion is authorized or shall be performed after the first trimester unless the 147 abortion is performed in a licensed hospital, in a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or 148 in a health facility licensed as an abortion facility by the Department of Community 149 Health. 150 (2) An abortion shall only be performed by a physician licensed under Article 2 of 151 Chapter 34 of Title 43. 152 (d)(f) Hospital or other licensed health facility Health records shall be available to the 153 district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the hospital or health facility is located act 154 of abortion occurs or the woman upon whom an abortion is performed resides. 155 (g) Any woman upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of this Code section may 156 recover in a civil action from the person who engaged in such violation all damages 157 available to her under Georgia law for any torts. 158 (h) It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this article if: 159 (1) A licensed physician provides medical treatment to a pregnant woman which results 160 in the accidental or unintentional injury to or death of an unborn child; 161 (2) An advanced practice registered nurse or registered professional nurse, as such terms 162 are defined in Code Section 43-26-3, or a licensed practical nurse, as such term is defined 163 in Code Section 43-26-32, engages in the practice of nursing to provide care for a 164 pregnant woman which results in the accidental or unintentional injury to or death of an 165 unborn child; 166 (3) A licensed pharmacist engages in the practice of pharmacy, as such term is defined 167 in Code Section 26-4-4, to provide care for a pregnant woman which results in the 168 accidental or unintentional injury or death of an unborn child; H. B. 481 -5- 19 HB 481/AP 169 (4) A licensed physician assistant, as such term is defined in Code Section 43-34-102, 170 provides care to a pregnant woman which results in the accidental or unintentional injury 171 to or death of an unborn child; or 172 (5) A woman sought an abortion because she reasonably believed that an abortion was 173 the only way to prevent a medical emergency." 174 SECTION 5. 175 Chapter 6 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to alimony and 176 child support, is amended by revising paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Code 177 Section 19-6-15, relating to child support, guidelines for determining amount of award, 178 continuation of duty of support, and duration of support, and by adding a new subsection to 179 read as follows: 180 "(4) 'Child' means child or children Reserved." 181 "(a.1)(1) As used in this chapter, the term 'child' means child or children, including any 182 unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat as such terms are defined in Code 183 Section 1-2-1. 184 (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this Code section to the contrary, the maximum 185 amount of support which the court may impose on the father of an unborn child under this 186 Code section shall be the amount of direct medical and pregnancy related expenses of the 187 mother of the unborn child. After birth, the provisions of this Code section shall apply 188 in full." 189 SECTION 6. 190 Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to parent and child 191 relationship generally, is amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Code 192 Section 19-7-1, relating to in whom parental power lies, how such power lost, and recovery 193 for homicide of child, as follows: 194 "(c)(1) In every case of the homicide of a child, minor or sui juris, there shall be some 195 party entitled to recover the full value of the life of the child, either as provided in this 196 Code section or as provided in Chapter 4 of Title 51. For the homicide of an unborn 197 child, the right to recover for the full value of the life of such child shall begin at the point 198 at which a detectable human heartbeat, as such term is defined in Code Section 1-2-1, is 199 present." H. B. 481 -6- 19 HB 481/AP 200 SECTION 7. 201 Chapter 9A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Woman's 202 Right to Know Act," is amended by revising paragraph (1) of Code Section 31-9A-3, relating 203 to voluntary and informed consent to abortion and availability of ultrasound, as follows: 204 "(1) The female is told the following, by telephone or in person, by the physician who 205 is to perform the abortion, by a qualified agent of the physician who is to perform the 206 abortion, by a qualified agent of a referring physician, or by a referring physician, at 207 least 24 hours before the abortion: 208 (A) The particular medical risks to the individual patient associated with the particular 209 abortion procedure to be employed, when medically accurate; 210 (B) The probable gestational age and presence of a detectable human heartbeat, as such 211 term is defined in Code Section 1-2-1, of the an unborn child at the time the abortion 212 would be performed; and 213 (C) The medical risks associated with carrying the an unborn child to term. 214 The information required by this paragraph may be provided by telephone without 215 conducting a physical examination or tests of the patient, in which case the information 216 required to be provided may be based on facts supplied to the physician by the female and 217 whatever other relevant information is reasonably available to the physician. Such 218 information may not be provided by a tape recording but must be provided during a 219 consultation in which the physician or a qualified agent of the physician is able to ask 220 questions of the female and the female is able to ask questions of the physician or the 221 physician's qualified agent. If in the medical judgment of the physician any physical 222 examination, tests, or other information subsequently provided to the physician requires 223 a revision of the information previously supplied to the patient, that revised information 224 shall be communicated to the patient prior to the performance of the abortion. Nothing 225 in this Code section may be construed to preclude provision of required information in 226 a language understood by the patient through a translator;" 227 SECTION 8. 228 Said chapter is further amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Code 229 Section 31-9A-4, relating to information to be made available by the Department of Public 230 Health, format requirements, availability, and requirements for website, as follows: 231 "(3) Materials with the following statement concerning unborn children with a detectable 232 human heartbeat, as such term is defined in Code Section 1-2-1, and of 20 weeks' or more 233 gestational age: 234 'As early as six weeks' gestation, an unborn child may have a detectable human 235 heartbeat. By 20 weeks' gestation, the an unborn child has the physical structures H. B. 481 -7- 19 HB 481/AP 236 necessary to experience pain. There is evidence that by 20 weeks' gestation unborn 237 children seek to evade certain stimuli in a manner which in an infant or an adult would 238 be interpreted to be a response to pain. Anesthesia is routinely administered to unborn 239 children who are 20 weeks' gestational age or older who undergo prenatal surgery.' 240 The materials shall be objective, nonjudgmental, and designed to convey only accurate 241 scientific information about the an unborn child at the various gestational ages." 242 SECTION 9. 243 Said chapter is further amended by repealing in its entirety Code Section 31-9A-6.1, relating 244 to civil and professional penalties for violations and prerequisites for seeking penalties. 245 SECTION 10. 246 Chapter 9B of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physician's 247 obligation in performance of abortions, is amended by revising Code Section 31-9B-2, 248 relating to requirement to determine probable gestational age of unborn child, as follows: 249 "31-9B-2. 250 (a) Except in the case of a medical emergency or when a pregnancy is diagnosed as 251 medically futile, no abortion shall be performed or attempted to be performed unless the 252 physician performing it such procedure has first made a determination of the probable 253 gestational age presence of a detectable human heartbeat, as such term is defined in Code 254 Section 1-2-1, of the an unborn child or relied upon such a determination made by another 255 physician. 256 (b) Failure In addition to any criminal or civil penalties provided by law, failure by any 257 physician to conform to any requirement of this Code section constitutes unprofessional 258 conduct for purposes of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Code Section 43-34-8 relating 259 to medical licensing sanctions." 260 SECTION 11. 261 Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 31-9B-3, relating 262 to required reporting of physicians and departments, confidentiality, and failure to comply, 263 as follows: 264 "(a) Any physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion shall report to the 265 department, in conjunction with the reports required under Code Section 31-9A-6 and in 266 accordance with forms and rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the 267 department: H. B. 481 -8- 19 HB 481/AP 268 (1) If a determination of probable gestational age was made detectable human heartbeat, 269 as such term is defined in Code Section 1-2-1, exists, the probable gestational age, 270 determined and the method and basis of the determination; 271 (2) If a determination of probable gestational age was not made, the basis of the 272 determination that a medical emergency existed or that a pregnancy was diagnosed as 273 medically futile; 274 (3)(2) If the probable gestational age was determined to be 20 or more weeks a 275 detectable human heartbeat, as such term is defined in Code Section 1-2-1, exists, the 276 basis of the determination that the pregnant woman had a medically futile pregnancy, that 277 a medical emergency existed, or that the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest or had 278 a condition which so complicated her medical condition as to necessitate the termination 279 of her pregnancy to avert her death or to avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible 280 physical impairment of a major bodily function, or the basis of the determination that it 281 was necessary to preserve the life of an unborn child; and 282 (4)(3) The method used for the abortion and, in the case of an abortion performed when 283 the probable gestational age was determined to be 20 or more weeks, whether the method 284 of abortion used was one that, in reasonable medical judgment, provided the best 285 opportunity for the unborn child to survive or, if such a method was not used, the basis 286 of the determination that the pregnancy was medically futile or that termination of the 287 pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk either of the death of the pregnant 288 woman or of the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily 289 function of the pregnant woman than would other available methods." 290 SECTION 12. 291 Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, 292 is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 48-7-26, relating to personal 293 exemptions, as follows: 294 "(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'dependent' shall have the same meaning as in 295 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; provided, however, that any unborn child with a 296 detectable human heartbeat, as such terms are defined in Code Section 1-2-1, shall qualify 297 as a dependent minor." 298 SECTION 13. 299 Any citizen of this state shall have standing and the right to intervene and defend in any 300 action challenging the constitutionality of any portion of this Act. H. B. 481 -9- 19 301 302 HB 481/AP SECTION 14. All provisions of this Act shall be severable in accordance with Code Section 1-1-3. 303 SECTION 15. 304 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2020. 305 SECTION 16. 306 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. H. B. 481 - 10 -