Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                        HOUSE BILL NO. 2688
                               103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY


                              INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CHAPPELL.

     5103H.01I                                                                    JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk


                                                AN ACT
     To repeal section 1.205, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to unborn
            children.


     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

             Section A. Section 1.205, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
 2   thereof, to be known as section 1.205, to read as follows:
             1.205. 1. The general assembly of this state finds that:
 2           (1) The life of each human being begins at conception;
 3           (2) Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being;
 4           (3) The natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life,
 5   health, and well-being of their unborn child.
 6           2. Effective January 1, 1988, the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed
 7   to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights,
 8   privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state,
 9   subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by
10   the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and
11   constitution of this state.
12           3. Unborn children at every stage of development are entitled to the protection of
13   rights guaranteed under the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution
14   of the United States.
15           4. As used in this section, the term "unborn children" or "unborn child" shall include
16   all unborn child or children or the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception
17   until birth at every stage of biological development.

     EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
     intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 2688                                             2

18         [4.] 5. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as creating a cause of action against
19 a woman for indirectly harming her unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by
20 failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced (5103H.01): 1.205