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H.B. 353

This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Mon, Mar 7, 2011 at 12:25 PM by lerror. -->              1     

ABORTION FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Carl Wimmer

             5     
Senate Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends the portion of the Utah Criminal Code relating to abortion by
             10      replacing Utah's freedom of conscience law with a new and expanded freedom of
             11      conscience law.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines H. [ the term "health care provider" ] terms .H ;
             15          .    provides that a health care provider may, on religious or moral grounds, refuse to
             16      perform or participate in any way in an abortion;
             17          .    provides that, except as otherwise required by law, a
             17a      H. [ hospital ] health care facility .H may refuse, on
             18      religious or moral grounds, to admit a patient for an abortion procedure or perform
             19      an abortion procedure for a patient;
             20          .    provides that a health care provider's or a H. [ hospital's ] health care facility's .H
             20a      refusal, described in the
             21      preceding paragraphs, may not be the basis for civil liability or other recriminatory
             22      action;
             23          .    provides that a H. [ hospital ] health care facility .H , employer, or other person may
             23a      not take any adverse action
             24      against a health care provider for exercising the health care provider's right of
             25      refusal described in this bill;
             26          .    provides that a person who is adversely impacted by conduct prohibited by this bill
             27      may bring a civil action for equitable relief, including reinstatement, and for

             28      damages; and
             29          .    provides that a person who brings an action under this bill must commence the
             30      action within three years after the day on which the cause of action arises.
             31      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             32          None
             33      Other Special Clauses:
             34          None
             35      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             36      REPEALS AND REENACTS:
             37          76-7-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 20
             38     
             39      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             40          Section 1. Section 76-7-306 is repealed and reenacted to read:
             41          76-7-306. Refusal to participate, admit, or treat for abortion based on religious or
             42      moral grounds -- Cause of action.
             43          (1) As used in this section H. [ , ] :
             43a      (a) "Health care facility" is as defined in Section 26-21-2.
             43b          (b) .H " H. [ health ] Health .H care provider" means an individual who is an
             44      employee of, has practice privileges at, or is otherwise associated with a H. [ hospital ] health care
             44a      facility .H .
             45          (2) A health care provider may, on religious or moral grounds, refuse to perform or
             46      participate in any way, in:
             47          (a) an abortion; or
             48          (b) a procedure that is intended to, or likely to, result in the termination of a pregnancy.
             49          (3) Except as otherwise required by law, a H. [ hospital ] health care facility, .H may
             49a      refuse, on religious or moral
             50      grounds, to:
             51          (a) admit a patient for an abortion procedure or another procedure that is intended to, or
             52      likely to, result in the termination of a pregnancy; or
             53          (b) perform for a patient an abortion procedure or another procedure that is intended to,
             54      or likely to, result in the termination of a pregnancy.
             55          (4) A health care provider's refusal under Subsection (2) and a H. [ hospital's ] health care
             55a      facility's .H refusal under
             56      Subsection (3) may not be the basis for civil liability or other recriminatory action.
             57          (5) A H. [ hospital ] health care facility .H , employer, or other person may not take an
             57a      adverse action against a
             58      health care provider for exercising the health care provider's right of refusal described in

             59      Subsection (2), or for bringing or threatening to bring an action described in Subsection (6),
             60      including:
             61          (a) dismissal;
             62          (b) demotion;
             63          (c) suspension;
             64          (d) discipline;
             65          (e) discrimination;
             66          (f) harassment;
             67          (g) retaliation;
             68          (h) adverse change in status;
             69          (i) termination of, adverse alteration of, or refusal to renew an association or
             70      agreement; or
             71          (j) refusal to provide a benefit, privilege, raise, promotion, tenure, or increased status
             72      that the health care provider would have otherwise received.
             73          (6) A person who is adversely impacted by conduct prohibited in Subsection (5) may
             74      bring a civil action for equitable relief, including reinstatement, and for damages. A person
             75      who brings an action under this section must commence the action within three years after the
             76      day on which the cause of action arises.




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    as of 2-11-11 1:27 PM

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