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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1317 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1991
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Dawne Shand
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to abortion care for young people.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Dawne Shand1st Essex1/14/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/19/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/19/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/19/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/19/2025John H. Rogers12th Norfolk2/6/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/19/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/19/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex3/3/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex3/3/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1317 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1991
By Representative Shand of Newburyport, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1991) of
Dawne Shand and others relative to further regulating access to abortion care. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to abortion care for young people.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby amended in section 12K by adding
2the following definitions:-
3 “Abortion-related care”, a medically appropriate service complementary to the
4performance of an abortion.
5 “Provider”, a licensed health care professional who, acting within their scope of practice,
6may lawfully perform an abortion or provide abortion-related care.
7 “Provider facility”, a structure in which a provider performs abortions or provides
8abortion-related care.
9 SECTION 2. Chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out
10section 12R and inserting in place thereof the following sections: 2 of 2
11 An abortion shall not be performed without first obtaining the written informed consent
12of the patient seeking an abortion. The commissioner of public health shall prescribe a form to
13use in obtaining such consent. A patient seeking an abortion shall sign the consent form in
14advance of the time for which the abortion is scheduled, except in an emergency requiring
15immediate action; provided, however, that this requirement shall not impose any waiting period
16between the signing of the consent form and the patient obtaining the abortion. The patient shall
17then return it to the physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or nurse midwife
18performing the abortion who shall maintain it in their files and who shall destroy it 7 years after
19the date upon which the abortion is performed.
20 The consent form and any other forms, transcript of evidence or written findings or
21conclusions of a court shall be confidential and shall not be released to any other person except
22by the patient's written informed consent or by a proper judicial order, other than to the patient
23themselves, to whom such documents relate, the physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner
24or nurse midwife who performed the abortion or any person whose consent is obtained pursuant
25to this section or under any other applicable state or federal law.
26 SECTION 3. The second paragraph (2) of section 12F of chapter 112 of the General
27Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words “his medical or dental care” after the words
28“Any minor may give consent to” and by inserting the words “their medical care, including
29abortion, or dental care”
30 SECTION 4. The third paragraph (3) of section 12F of chapter 112 of the General Laws,
31is hereby amended by striking out the word “abortion or”.