House Bill No. introduced by K. Seekins-Crowe and others establishes the criminal offense of "abortion trafficking" in Montana. The bill makes it illegal for a person to transport or assist in transporting an unborn child within or outside the state for the purpose of obtaining an abortion that is illegal in Montana. A person convicted of this offense could face a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Additionally, the bill amends Section 50-20-112 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify penalties related to abortion-related offenses.

Notably, the bill modifies existing law by stating that a penalty may be imposed against the mother of an unborn child for violations of the new abortion trafficking provision, which was not previously allowed. The bill also includes provisions for its immediate effect upon passage and specifies that it applies to acts committed on or after the effective date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 50-20-112
HB0609_1(1): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(2): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(3): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(4): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(5): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(6): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(7): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(8): 50-20-112
HB0609_1(9): 50-20-112
HB0609_1: 50-20-112