The bill, known as "The Catherine and Josephine Herring Act," introduces several amendments and new provisions related to abortion laws in Louisiana. It defines "abortion" to include the termination of a pregnancy with the knowledge that it will likely result in the death of the unborn child, regardless of the child's survival. A new crime, "coerced criminal abortion by means of fraud," is established, which occurs when an individual uses abortion-inducing drugs on a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent. Penalties for this crime include imprisonment for five to ten years, with harsher penalties for cases involving pregnancies over three months.

Additionally, the bill amends the definitions of racketeering activity to include criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs and adds mifepristone and misoprostol to Schedule IV of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. It clarifies that a pregnant woman is not violating the law by possessing these substances for her own consumption. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2024, and mandates that the Board of Pharmacy and the Louisiana Department of Health inform pharmacists and healthcare providers about the new provisions.

Statutes affected:
SB276 Original: 14:7(A), 14:8(A), 14:9(A)
SB276 Engrossed: 14:7(A), 14:8(A), 14:9(A)
SB276 Enrolled: 14:1(1)
SB276 Act : 14:1(1)