SPONSOR: Chappell
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Children and Families by a vote of 12 to 5.
This bill provides that unborn children at every stage of development are entitled to the protection of rights guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill clarifies the right to due process for unborn children and fosters a culture of life, dignity, and respect. Unborn children are human at every stage of development and deserve the protections afforded to other persons.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Chappell; Campaign Life Missouri; Arnie C. Dienoff; Missouri Catholic Conference; Lucy Orebaugh; and Missouri Right To Life.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that the bill invites government interference into medical care, opens the door to criminalizing citizens based on pregnancy outcomes, and could restrict or limit access to in-vitro fertilization as a family planning method.
Testifying in person against the bill were Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action; Abortion Action Missouri; Beacon Reproductive Health Network; and American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: