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Born-Alive Bill Passes WV Senate Judiciary Committee and Heads to Senate Floor for Readings

Feb 4, 2020

By Mary Anne Buchanan

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (HB 4007/SB 231) has successfully passed out of all its assigned committees with its most recent passage this afternoon by voice vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

All that remains now are three readings on the Senate floor and then the final vote.

The Born-Alive Bill’s overwhelming House passage by a 93-5 margin on January 15, 2020, was not surprisingly bipartisan.

The Born-Alive Bill will enact requirements that a baby born alive during an abortion must be afforded “the same degree” of care that would apply “to any other child born alive at the same gestational age,” including transportation to a hospital; and mandatory reporting of violations. The bill does not dictate bona fide medical judgments nor require futile measures. It merely requires that babies born alive during abortions are treated in the same manner as those who are spontaneously born prematurely. 

It also calls for discipline and potential loss of license by the WV Board of Medicine. In addition, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act provides a civil cause of action to women who are harmed by violations of the Act.

 “West Virginians for Life thanks the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for voting in favor of the Born-Alive Bill and sending it to the Senate floor for their desire to protect the lives of West Virginia infants,” said WVFL President Wanda Franz.

Lead sponsors of the bill are Delegates Ruth Rowan and Senator Patricia Rucker.

Governor Justice has indicated that he will sign The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Categories: Legislation
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