House Bill 1105 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 39-15-213, to introduce a new exception regarding criminal abortion. The bill stipulates that if a licensed physician performs or attempts to perform an abortion on a patient whose pregnancy resulted from specific crimes—namely aggravated rape, rape, rape of a child, especially aggravated rape, especially aggravated rape of a child, or incest—this action is exempt from the prohibitions outlined in subsection (b) of the existing law.

The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting victims of severe sexual offenses by allowing them access to abortion services under these circumstances. The new legal language clarifies the conditions under which the exception applies, ensuring that the law recognizes the traumatic context of such pregnancies. The act is set to take effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting the urgency of addressing this issue for public welfare.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39-15-213