DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 251 Original 2023 Regular Session Boyd
Abstract: Adds rape and incest to the list of acts performed by a physician that shall not be
considered an abortion.
Present law defines "abortion" and provides a list of acts performed by a physician that shall not, by
definition, be considered acts of abortion.
Proposed law extends present law by providing that the removal of an unborn child conceived by an
act of rape, a crime against nature, or a crime against the child shall not be considered an abortion
if the crime is reported in accordance with one of the requirements provided in proposed law and the
gestational age of the unborn child is 15 weeks or less.
Proposed law further provides that one of the following requirements shall be met in addition to the
gestational age requirements:
(1)If the unborn child was conceived by an act of rape that preceded the performance of the
pregnancy termination, the victim personally reported the rape and the identity of the
offender, if known, to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
(2)If the unborn child's conception resulted from a crime against nature that preceded the
performance of the pregnancy termination, the victim personally reported the crime and the
identity of the offender, if known, to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
(3)If the unborn child's conception resulted from a crime against the child that preceded the
performance of the pregnancy termination, the crime was reported to an appropriate law
enforcement agency in accordance with present law.
Proposed law defines "crime against nature" and "crime against the child".
(Adds R.S. 14:87.1(1)(b)(vii))