2008 Senate Bill 40 (Require pre-abortion ultrasound imaging and consultation)

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Introduced by Sen. Jack Westwood (R) on January 8, 2008, to require physicians performing any part of an abortion to first perform an obstetric ultrasound of the fetus and show the ultrasound images to the pregnant woman. The bill allows for an exception in case of emergency but creates fines for non-compliance or falsification of records of up to $100,000 for first offense and up to $250,000 for subsequent offenses.
- Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 8, 2008.
- Reported in the Senate on February 7, 2008, favorably, to Rules.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on February 7, 2008, to change the prohibition on partial birth abortion so it is the same as the federal ban.
  - Withdrawn in the Senate on February 7, 2008.
- Amendment offered by Sen. Robert Stivers (R) on February 7, 2008, to make a title amendment and require the bill to be enacted as soon as it is passed. The amendment passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 7, 2008.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on February 7, 2008, to clarify language relating to the ultrasound requirement in emergency situations. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 7, 2008.
Passed in the Senate (32 to 4) on February 7, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on February 8, 2008.
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on February 12, 2008.
- Motion in the House on March 12, 2008, discharge petition filed.
- The motion failed in the House (40 to 16) on March 13, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Motion in the House on March 19, 2008, discharge petition filed.
- Motion in the House on March 24, 2008, discharge petition filed.
- Motion in the House on March 26, 2008, discharge petition filed.
- Motion in the House on March 28, 2008, discharge petition filed.

Most Recent Comments

1) Re: 2008 Senate Bill 40 (Require pre-abortion ultrasound imaging and consultation) [by Republican Veteran on March 16, 2009]

This is the most crazy thing I have heard. If the Republicans wish to over turn or change the current Federal law then do something about Roe vs Wade. Call on your Republican majority supreme court to make the position tougher. But do not waste the Commonwealths time with this matter. This is a Tori & Tim Moore trying to make it impossible for a person and a doctor to have a discussion and then life with the results. I have been checking and Mr. Moore received over $10,000.00 from doctors for his lame re-election bid.

There was a case in Idaho where a young girl had to watch her parents get stabbed to death, then she was raped. When she found out that she was pregnant she attempted to end her own life. After her abortion at one month she stated there is no way I could carry a monsters baby after watching my family murdered.

Sen Stein I applaud your presentation. Do not let others back you down.

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2) Being informed is a right. [by Anonymous Citizen on April 2, 2008]
If information produces guilt, is be a legitimate warning to protect a person from actions that violate their conscience. I had an abortion thirty years ago when I was married and in college and felt that a baby was an imposition on my life at the time. That action did not improve my life or make me more free, just more irresponsible. Years later when I had my "first" child and actually bothered to get educated about what a baby is even in the early weeks of gestation--there are no words to relate the horror. Some plain truth in my face might have spared me a life of recurrent anguish and bitter regret.
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3) What is the purpose? [by Involved Parent on March 26, 2008]
I have had an abortion. I did not make the decision lightly. It wasn't the right time for me to bring a child into this world. I was using reliable birth control responsibly. This is the most atrocious use of power I have ever seen. If you feel abortion is so awful, then stop complaining about welfare, because you haven’t seen anything yet! If you are so concerned about the "unborn" child, why aren't you feeding and protecting all the children that were brought into this world that were not wanted, but don't have healthcare, food or roof over their heads.
Get real, only a woman can decide if having a child is the right decision for her. Oh, I have an idea; let all the deadbeat dads out there make the decision.
Religious Reich...GET OUT OF MY LIFE!
Judge not!
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