Download Zipped Amended WordPerfect HB0012.ZIP
[Introduced][Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 12

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 10:37 AM by lerror. --> This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 3:20 PM by jeyring. -->              1      H. [

ABORTION AMENDMENTS ]

             1a      CRIMINAL HOMICIDE AND ABORTION AMENDMENTS .H
             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Carl Wimmer

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      Committee Note:
             9          The Health and Human Services Interim Committee recommended this bill.
             10      General Description:
             11          This bill amends provisions of the Utah Criminal Code to describe the difference
             12      between abortion and criminal homicide of an unborn child and to remove prohibitions
             13      against prosecution of a woman for killing an unborn child or committing criminal
             14      homicide of an unborn child.
             15      Highlighted Provisions:
             16          This bill:
             17          .    provides that, for aggravated murder, the aggravating factor of the victim being
             18      under the age of 14 years does not apply to the homicide of an unborn child;
             18a      H. . provides that a person is not guilty of criminal homicide of an unborn child if the sole
             18b      reason for the death of the unborn child is that the person refused to consent to medical
             18c      treatment or a cesarean section or failed to follow medical advice;
             18d          .    provides that a woman is not guilty of criminal homicide of her own unborn child if
             18e      the death of her unborn child:
             18f          .    is caused by a criminally negligent act of the woman; and
             18g          .    is not caused by an intentional, knowing, or reckless act of the woman; .H
             19          .    defines terms, including amending the definition of abortion to relate only to a
             20      medical procedure carried out by a physician, or through a substance used under the
             21      direction of a physician, with the consent of the woman on whom the abortion is
             22      performed;
             23          .    describes the difference between abortion and criminal homicide of an unborn child;


             24          .    removes prohibitions against prosecution of a woman for killing an unborn child or


             25      committing criminal homicide of an unborn child H. [ ; and ]
             25a           . clarifies that a woman is not criminally liable for seeking to obtain, or obtaining, an
             25b      abortion that is permitted by law; and .H
             26          .    makes technical changes.
             27      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:


             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          This bill provides an immediate effective date.
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          76-5-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 327
             34          76-5-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapters 157 and 206
             35          76-7-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapters 90 and 272
             36          76-7-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 38
             37          76-7-327, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 272
             38          76-7-314, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 38
             39          76-7-314.5, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 38
             40      ENACTS:
             41          76-7-301.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42      REPEALS:
             43          76-7-329, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 272
             44     
             45      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             46          Section 1. Section 76-5-201 is amended to read:
             47           76-5-201. Criminal homicide -- Elements -- Designations of offenses.
             48          (1) (a) H. [ A ] Except as provided in Subsections (3) and (4), a .H person commits
             48a      criminal homicide if [he] the person intentionally,
             49      knowingly, recklessly, with criminal negligence, or acting with a mental state otherwise
             50      specified in the statute defining the offense, causes the death of another human being, including
             51      an unborn child at any stage of its development.
             52          (b) There shall be no cause of action for criminal homicide for the death of an unborn
             53      child caused by an abortion, as defined in Section 76-7-301 .
             54          (2) Criminal homicide is aggravated murder, murder, manslaughter, child abuse
             55      homicide, homicide by assault, negligent homicide, or automobile homicide.
             55a      H. (3) A person is not guilty of criminal homicide of an unborn child if the sole reason for
             55b      the death of the unborn child is that the person:
             55c          (a) refused to consent to:
             55d          (i) medical treatment; or
             55e          (ii) a cesarean section; or
             55f          (b)failed to follow medical advice.
             55g          (4) A woman is not guilty of criminal homicide of her own unborn child if the death of
             55h      her unborn child:
             55i          (a) is caused by a criminally negligent act of the woman; and
             55j          (b) is not caused by an intentional, knowing, or reckless act of the woman. .H
             56          Section 2. Section 76-5-202 is amended to read:
             57           76-5-202. Aggravated murder.
             58          (1) Criminal homicide constitutes aggravated murder if the actor intentionally or


             59      knowingly causes the death of another under any of the following circumstances:
             60          (a) the homicide was committed by a person who is confined in a jail or other
             61      correctional institution;
             62          (b) the homicide was committed incident to one act, scheme, course of conduct, or
             63      criminal episode during which two or more persons were killed, or during which the actor
             64      attempted to kill one or more persons in addition to the victim who was killed;
             65          (c) the actor knowingly created a great risk of death to a person other than the victim
             66      and the actor;
             67          (d) the homicide was committed incident to an act, scheme, course of conduct, or
             68      criminal episode during which the actor committed or attempted to commit aggravated robbery,
             69      robbery, rape, rape of a child, object rape, object rape of a child, forcible sodomy, sodomy upon
             70      a child, forcible sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual abuse of a child, child
             71      abuse as defined in Subsection 76-5-109 (2)(a), or aggravated sexual assault, aggravated arson,
             72      arson, aggravated burglary, burglary, aggravated kidnapping, or kidnapping, or child
             73      kidnapping;
             74          (e) the homicide was committed incident to one act, scheme, course of conduct, or
             75      criminal episode during which the actor committed the crime of abuse or desecration of a dead
             76      human body as defined in Subsection 76-9-704 (2)(e);
             77          (f) the homicide was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest of
             78      the defendant or another by a peace officer acting under color of legal authority or for the
             79      purpose of effecting the defendant's or another's escape from lawful custody;
             80          (g) the homicide was committed for pecuniary gain;
             81          (h) the defendant committed, or engaged or employed another person to commit the
             82      homicide pursuant to an agreement or contract for remuneration or the promise of remuneration
             83      for commission of the homicide;
             84          (i) the actor previously committed or was convicted of:
             85          (i) aggravated murder under this section;
             86          (ii) attempted aggravated murder under this section;
             87          (iii) murder, Section 76-5-203 ;
             88          (iv) attempted murder, Section 76-5-203 ; or
             89          (v) an offense committed in another jurisdiction which if committed in this state would


             90      be a violation of a crime listed in this Subsection (1)(i);
             91          (j) the actor was previously convicted of:
             92          (i) aggravated assault, Subsection 76-5-103 (2);
             93          (ii) mayhem, Section 76-5-105 ;
             94          (iii) kidnapping, Section 76-5-301 ;
             95          (iv) child kidnapping, Section 76-5-301.1 ;
             96          (v) aggravated kidnapping, Section 76-5-302 ;
             97          (vi) rape, Section 76-5-402 ;
             98          (vii) rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.1 ;
             99          (viii) object rape, Section 76-5-402.2 ;
             100          (ix) object rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.3 ;
             101          (x) forcible sodomy, Section 76-5-403 ;
             102          (xi) sodomy on a child, Section 76-5-403.1 ;
             103          (xii) aggravated sexual abuse of a child, Section 76-5-404.1 ;
             104          (xiii) aggravated sexual assault, Section 76-5-405 ;
             105          (xiv) aggravated arson, Section 76-6-103 ;
             106          (xv) aggravated burglary, Section 76-6-203 ;
             107          (xvi) aggravated robbery, Section 76-6-302 ;
             108          (xvii) felony discharge of a firearm, Section 76-10-508.1 ; or
             109          (xviii) an offense committed in another jurisdiction which if committed in this state
             110      would be a violation of a crime listed in this Subsection (1)(j);
             111          (k) the homicide was committed for the purpose of:
             112          (i) preventing a witness from testifying;
             113          (ii) preventing a person from providing evidence or participating in any legal
             114      proceedings or official investigation;
             115          (iii) retaliating against a person for testifying, providing evidence, or participating in
             116      any legal proceedings or official investigation; or
             117          (iv) disrupting or hindering any lawful governmental function or enforcement of laws;
             118          (l) the victim is or has been a local, state, or federal public official, or a candidate for
             119      public office, and the homicide is based on, is caused by, or is related to that official position,
             120      act, capacity, or candidacy;


             121          (m) the victim is or has been a peace officer, law enforcement officer, executive
             122      officer, prosecuting officer, jailer, prison official, firefighter, judge or other court official, juror,
             123      probation officer, or parole officer, and the victim is either on duty or the homicide is based on,
             124      is caused by, or is related to that official position, and the actor knew, or reasonably should
             125      have known, that the victim holds or has held that official position;
             126          (n) the homicide was committed:
             127          (i) by means of a destructive device, bomb, explosive, incendiary device, or similar
             128      device which was planted, hidden, or concealed in any place, area, dwelling, building, or
             129      structure, or was mailed or delivered; or
             130          (ii) by means of any weapon of mass destruction as defined in Section 76-10-401 ;
             131          (o) the homicide was committed during the act of unlawfully assuming control of any
             132      aircraft, train, or other public conveyance by use of threats or force with intent to obtain any
             133      valuable consideration for the release of the public conveyance or any passenger, crew
             134      member, or any other person aboard, or to direct the route or movement of the public
             135      conveyance or otherwise exert control over the public conveyance;
             136          (p) the homicide was committed by means of the administration of a poison or of any
             137      lethal substance or of any substance administered in a lethal amount, dosage, or quantity;
             138          (q) the victim was a person held or otherwise detained as a shield, hostage, or for
             139      ransom;
             140          (r) the homicide was committed in an especially heinous, atrocious, cruel, or
             141      exceptionally depraved manner, any of which must be demonstrated by physical torture, serious
             142      physical abuse, or serious bodily injury of the victim before death;
             143          (s) the actor dismembers, mutilates, or disfigures the victim's body, whether before or
             144      after death, in a manner demonstrating the actor's depravity of mind; or
             145          (t) the victim, at the time of the death of the victim:
             146          (i) was younger than 14 years of age[.]; and
             147          (ii) was not an unborn child.
             148          (2) Criminal homicide constitutes aggravated murder if the actor, with reckless
             149      indifference to human life, causes the death of another incident to an act, scheme, course of
             150      conduct, or criminal episode during which the actor is a major participant in the commission or
             151      attempted commission of:


             152          (a) child abuse, Subsection 76-5-109 (2)(a);
             153          (b) child kidnapping, Section 76-5-301.1 ;
             154          (c) rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.1 ;
             155          (d) object rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.3 ;
             156          (e) sodomy on a child, Section 76-5-403.1 ; or
             157          (f) sexual abuse or aggravated sexual abuse of a child, Section 76-5-404.1 .
             158          (3) (a) If a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has been filed, aggravated murder
             159      is a capital felony.
             160          (b) If a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has not been filed, aggravated murder
             161      is a noncapital first degree felony punishable by imprisonment for life without parole or by an
             162      indeterminate term of not less than 20 years and which may be for life.
             163          (c) (i) Within 60 days after arraignment of the defendant, the prosecutor may file notice
             164      of intent to seek the death penalty. The notice shall be served on the defendant or defense
             165      counsel and filed with the court.
             166          (ii) Notice of intent to seek the death penalty may be served and filed more than 60
             167      days after the arraignment upon written stipulation of the parties or upon a finding by the court
             168      of good cause.
             169          (d) Without the consent of the prosecutor, the court may not accept a plea of guilty to
             170      noncapital first degree felony aggravated murder during the period in which the prosecutor may
             171      file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty under Subsection (3)(c)(i).
             172          (4) (a) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of aggravated murder or attempted
             173      aggravated murder that the defendant caused the death of another or attempted to cause the
             174      death of another under a reasonable belief that the circumstances provided a legal justification
             175      or excuse for the conduct although the conduct was not legally justifiable or excusable under
             176      the existing circumstances.
             177          (b) The reasonable belief of the actor under Subsection (4)(a) shall be determined from
             178      the viewpoint of a reasonable person under the then existing circumstances.
             179          (c) This affirmative defense reduces charges only as follows:
             180          (i) aggravated murder to murder; and
             181          (ii) attempted aggravated murder to attempted murder.
             182          (5) (a) Any aggravating circumstance described in Subsection (1) or (2) that constitutes


             183      a separate offense does not merge with the crime of aggravated murder.
             184          (b) A person who is convicted of aggravated murder, based on an aggravating
             185      circumstance described in Subsection (1) or (2) that constitutes a separate offense, may also be
             186      convicted of, and punished for, the separate offense.
             187          Section 3. Section 76-7-301 is amended to read:
             188           76-7-301. Definitions.
             189          As used in this part:
             190          (1) (a) "Abortion" means:
             191          (i) the intentional termination or attempted termination of human pregnancy after
             192      implantation of a fertilized ovum[, and includes any and all procedures undertaken to kill a live
             193      unborn child and includes all procedures undertaken to produce a miscarriage.] through a
             194      medical procedure carried out by a physician or through a substance used under the direction of
             195      a physician;
             196          (ii) the intentional killing or attempted killing of a live unborn child through a medical
             197      procedure carried out by a physician or through a substance used under the direction of a
             198      physician; or
             199          (iii) the intentional causing or attempted causing of a miscarriage through a medical
             200      procedure carried out by a physician or through a substance used under the direction of a
             201      physician.
             202          (b) "Abortion" does not include:
             203          (i) removal of a dead unborn child[.];
             204           H. [ (ii) the killing or attempted killing of an unborn child by a person other than a
             205      physician;
             206          (iii) the killing or attempted killing of an unborn child by any person through a
             207      procedure other than:
             208          (A) a medical procedure; or
             209          (B) a substance used under the direction of a physician; or
]

             209a           (ii) removal of an ectopic pregnancy; or
             210      [ (iv) ] (iii) .H the killing or attempted killing of an unborn child without the consent of the
             211      pregnant woman, unless:
             212          (A) the killing or attempted killing is done through a medical procedure carried out by
             213      a physician or through a substance used under the direction of a physician; and


             214          (B) the physician is unable to obtain the consent due to a medical emergency.
             215          (2) "Medical emergency" means that condition which, on the basis of the physician's
             216      good faith clinical judgment, so threatens the life of a pregnant woman as to necessitate the
             217      immediate abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death, or for which a delay will create serious
             218      risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.
             219          (3) (a) "Partial birth abortion" means an abortion in which the person performing the
             220      abortion:
             221          (i) deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a
             222      head first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother, or, in the case of
             223      breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother,
             224      for the purpose of performing an overt act that the person knows will kill the partially delivered
             225      living fetus; and
             226          (ii) performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially
             227      living fetus.
             228          (b) "Partial birth abortion" does not include the dilation and evacuation procedure
             229      involving dismemberment prior to removal, the suction curettage procedure, or the suction
             230      aspiration procedure for abortion.
             231          (4) "Physician" means:
             232          (a) a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine and surgery under Title 58, Chapter
             233      67, Utah Medical Practice Act[, a physician in the employment of the government of the
             234      United States who is similarly qualified, or];
             235          (b) an osteopathic physician licensed to practice osteopathic medicine under Title 58,
             236      Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act[.]; or
             237          (c) a physician employed by the federal government who has qualifications similar to a
             238      person described in Subsection (4)(a) or (b).
             239          (5) "Hospital" means:
             240          (a) a general hospital licensed by the Department of Health according to Title 26,
             241      Chapter 21, Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act[, and includes]; and
             242          (b) a clinic or other medical facility to the extent that such clinic or other medical
             243      facility [provides] is certified by the Department of Health as providing equipment and
             244      personnel sufficient in quantity and quality to provide the same degree of safety to the pregnant


             245      woman and the unborn child as would be provided for the particular medical procedures
             246      undertaken by a general hospital licensed by the Department of Health. [It shall be the
             247      responsibility of the Department of Health to determine if such clinic or other medical facility
             248      so qualifies and to so certify.]
             249          Section 4. Section 76-7-301.5 is enacted to read:
             250          76-7-301.5. Relationship to criminal homicide.
             251          (1) This part does not apply to the killing or attempted killing of a live unborn child in
             252      any manner that is not an abortion.
             253          (2) The killing or attempted killing of a live unborn child in a manner that is not an
             254      abortion shall be punished as provided in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 2, Criminal Homicide.
             255          Section 5. Section 76-7-302 is amended to read:
             256           76-7-302. Circumstances under which abortion authorized.
             257          (1) As used in this section, "viable" means that the unborn child has reached a stage of
             258      fetal development when the unborn child is potentially able to live outside the womb, as
             259      determined by the attending physician to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
             260          (2) An abortion may be performed in this state only by a physician [licensed to practice
             261      medicine under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act or an osteopathic physician
             262      licensed to practice medicine under Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice
             263      Act].
             264          (3) An abortion may be performed in this state only under the following circumstances:
             265          (a) the unborn child is not viable; or
             266          (b) the unborn child is viable, if:
             267          (i) the abortion is necessary to avert:
             268          (A) the death of the woman on whom the abortion is performed; or
             269          (B) a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function
             270      of the woman on whom the abortion is performed;
             271          (ii) two physicians who practice maternal fetal medicine concur, in writing, in the
             272      patient's medical record that the fetus has a defect that is uniformly diagnosable and uniformly
             273      lethal; or
             274          (iii) (A) the woman is pregnant as a result of:
             275          (I) rape, as described in Section 76-5-402 ;


             276          (II) rape of a child, as described in Section 76-5-402.1 ; or
             277          (III) incest, as described in Subsection 76-5-406 (10) or Section 76-7-102 ; and
             278          (B) before the abortion is performed, the physician who performs the abortion:
             279          (I) verifies that the incident described in Subsection (3)(b)(iii)(A) has been reported to
             280      law enforcement; and
             281          (II) complies with the requirements of Section 62A-4a-403 .
             282          [(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a woman who seeks to have,
             283      or obtains, an abortion for herself is not criminally liable.]
             284          Section 6. Section 76-7-314 is amended to read:
             285           76-7-314. Violations of abortion laws -- Classifications.
             286          [(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman who seeks to have or
             287      obtains an abortion for herself is not criminally liable.]
             288          [(2) A woman upon whom a partial birth abortion is performed may not be prosecuted
             289      under Section 76-7-326 or 76-7-329 for a conspiracy to violate Section 76-7-326 or 76-7-329 .]
             290          [(3)] (1) A willful violation of Section 76-7-307 , 76-7-308 , 76-7-310 , 76-7-310.5 ,
             291      76-7-311 , or 76-7-312 is a felony of the third degree.
             292          [(4)] (2) A violation of Section 76-7-326 [or 76-7-329 ] is a felony of the third degree.
             293          [(5)] (3) A violation of Section 76-7-314.5 is a felony of the second degree.
             294          [(6)] (4) A violation of any other provision of this part is a class A misdemeanor.
             295          Section 7. Section 76-7-314.5 is amended to read:
             296           76-7-314.5. Killing an unborn child.
             297          [(1)] A person is guilty of killing an unborn child if the person causes the death of an
             298      unborn child by performing an abortion of the unborn child in violation of the provisions of
             299      Subsection 76-7-302 (3).
             300          [(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a woman who seeks to have,
             301      or obtains, an abortion for herself is not criminally liable.]
             301a      H. (2) A woman is not criminally liable for :
             301b1          (a) seeking to obtain, or obtaining, an abortion
             301b      that is permitted by this part [ . ] ; or
             301c          (b) a physician's failure to comply with Subsection 76-7-302(3)(b)(ii) or Section
             301d      76-7-305. .H
             302          Section 8. Section 76-7-327 is amended to read:
             303           76-7-327. Remedies for father or maternal grandparents.
             304          (1) The father, if married to the mother at the time she receives a partial birth abortion,
             305      and if the mother has not attained the age of 18 years at the time of the abortion, the maternal
             306      grandparents of the fetus, may in a civil action obtain appropriate relief, unless the pregnancy


             307      resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion.
             308          (2) Such relief shall include:
             309          (a) money damages for all injuries, psychological and physical, occasioned by the
             310      violation of Section 76-7-326 [or 76-7-329 ]; and
             311          (b) statutory damages equal to three times the cost of the partial birth abortion.
             312          Section 9. Repealer.
             313          This bill repeals:
             314          Section 76-7-329, Person unauthorized to perform abortions -- Penalties.
             315          Section 10. Effective date.
             316          If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
             317      upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
             318      Constitution Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
             319      the date of veto override.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 11-18-09 1:28 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]