This bill amends existing Louisiana law regarding extortion and introduces new provisions related to coerced abortion. It specifically defines coerced abortion as the act of using or threatening physical force, control, or intimidation against a pregnant woman to compel her to undergo an abortion against her will. The bill outlines that such coercive actions can include battery, assault, simple kidnapping, false imprisonment, and extortion. Additionally, it establishes penalties for those found guilty of coerced abortion, which may include fines of up to five thousand dollars and imprisonment for up to five years, with or without hard labor.

Key changes in the law include the redefinition of extortion to include threats aimed at compelling a pregnant woman to have an abortion, as well as the introduction of a new section that explicitly addresses the crime of coerced abortion. The language of the bill replaces the term "intentionally" with "knowingly" in the context of coercion and clarifies the types of conduct that constitute coercion. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen legal protections for pregnant women against coercive practices related to abortion.

Statutes affected:
HB425 Original: 40:7(A)(1)
HB425 Engrossed: 14:66(A)
HB425 Enrolled: 14:66(A)
HB425 Act 275: 14:66(A)