The bill mandates that any clinic, health center, or facility that willfully terminates or aborts a pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant must be licensed by the Department of Health. This includes all forms of abortion, including nonsurgical methods. Additionally, it specifies that hospitals are prohibited from performing abortions unless it is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman in a medical emergency. The definition of abortion is clarified, and certain acts are exempted from being classified as abortions if they are performed to save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child, remove a dead unborn child, or address an ectopic pregnancy.

Furthermore, the bill includes a contingent effective date, stating that the provisions will only take effect if Arkansas is enjoined from preventing individuals from performing or attempting to perform abortions, except in cases of medical emergencies. It also stipulates that the effective date will apply if specific sections of the law are repealed to allow for abortions beyond the current restrictions. This legislation reflects a significant regulatory change regarding abortion services in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
SB 581: 20-9-302(a)