Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB832 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0832
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 832
8	8	J1 3lr2259
9	9	HB 1167/22 – HGO CF 3lr2261
10	10	By: Senators Carozza, Ready, Gallion, Salling, and Folden
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2023
12	12	Assigned to: Finance
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Public Health – Pregnancy – Coercion 2
19	19	(Coercive Abuse Against Mothers Prevention Act) 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of prohibiting an individual from committing or threatening certain 4
22	22	actions with the intent of coercing a pregnant woman to have an abortion; providing 5
23	23	that a pregnant minor is considered an emancipated minor for purposes of eligibility 6
24	24	for public assistance if the minor is denied financial support from a parent or 7
25	25	guardian due to the minor’s refusal to have an abortion; requiring a health care 8
26	26	facility that performs abortions to post certain signs in certain rooms of the facility; 9
27	27	requiring employees and volunteers of a health care facility that performs abortions 10
28	28	to make a certain report under certain circumstances; requiring health care 11
29	29	providers to comply with a certain waiting period before performing an abortion if 12
30	30	an employee or a volunteer suspects that a pregnant woman is being coerced into 13
31	31	having an abortion; and generally relating to abortion. 14
32	32
33	33	BY adding to 15
34	34	Article – Health – General 16
35	35	Section 20–217 through 20–224 to be under the new part “Part V. Coercive Actions” 17
36	36	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
37	37	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 19
38	38
39	39	Preamble 20
40	40
41	41	WHEREAS, Research indicates that violence against pregnant women is a serious 21
42	42	problem; and 22
43	43
44	44	WHEREAS, Many women report that they were coerced into abortions and have 23
45	45	suffered grievous physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual harm as a result; and 24
46	46
47	47	WHEREAS, Victims of sex trafficking are often coerced into abortions due to the 25
48	48	circumstances of sex trafficking; and 26 2 SENATE BILL 832
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	WHEREAS, More cases of coerced or attempted coerced abortions are reported if 1
53	53	women are informed of their rights and provided information concerning treatment and 2
54	54	protection options; and 3
55	55
56	56	WHEREAS, More women and victims of sex trafficking can receive treatment for 4
57	57	coercive abuse if they are informed of their rights and given information concerning 5
58	58	treatment and protection options; and 6
59	59
60	60	WHEREAS, Coercive abuse is a serious women’s health issue because it violates a 7
61	61	woman’s right to physical and emotional health, freedom of conscience, and freedom to 8
62	62	choose whether to continue her pregnancy or have an abortion; now, therefore, 9
63	63
64	64	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
65	65	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
66	66
67	67	Article – Health – General 12
68	68
69	69	20–215. RESERVED. 13
70	70
71	71	20–216. RESERVED. 14
72	72
73	73	PART V. COERCIVE ACTIONS. 15
74	74
75	75	20–217. 16
76	76
77	77	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17
78	78	INDICATED. 18
79	79
80	80	(B) (1) “ABORTION” MEANS THE ACT OF USI NG OR PRESCRIBING AN 19
81	81	INSTRUMENT , A MEDICINE, A DRUG, OR ANY OTHER SUBSTAN CE, DEVICE, OR MEANS 20
82	82	WITH THE INTENT TO T ERMINATE THE CL INICALLY DIAGNOSABLE PREGNANCY OF A 21
83	83	WOMAN, WITH KNOWLEDGE THAT THE TERMINATION BY T HOSE MEANS WILL WITH 22
84	84	REASONABLE LIKELIHOO D CAUSE THE DEATH OF THE UNBORN CHILD . 23
85	85
86	86	(2) “ABORTION” DOES NOT INCLUDE THE USE OR PRESCRIPTION OF 24
87	87	AN INSTRUMENT , A MEDICINE, A DRUG, OR ANY OTHER SUBSTAN CE, DEVICE, OR 25
88	88	MEANS IF USED OR PRE SCRIBED TO: 26
89	89
90	90	(I) SAVE THE LIFE OR PRES ERVE THE HEALTH OF A N UNBORN 27
91	91	CHILD; 28
92	92
93	93	(II) REMOVE A DEAD UNBORN CHILD RESULTING FROM 29
94	94	SPONTANEOUS PREGNANC Y LOSS; 30
95	95	SENATE BILL 832 3
96	96
97	97
98	98	(III) REMOVE AN ECTOPIC PRE GNANCY; OR 1
99	99
100	100	(IV) TREAT A MATERNAL DISE ASE OR ILLNESS FOR W HICH THE 2
101	101	PRESCRIBED DRUG IS I NDICATED. 3
102	102
103	103	(C) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–114 OF 4
104	104	THIS ARTICLE. 5
105	105
106	106	(D) “SEX TRAFFICKING ” MEANS THE RECRUITMEN T, HARBORING, 6
107	107	TRANSPORTATION , PROVISION, OBTAINING, PATRONIZING, OR SOLICITING OF AN 7
108	108	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE P URPOSE OF A COMMERCI AL SEX ACT THAT IS: 8
109	109
110	110	(1) INDUCED BY FORCE , FRAUD, OR COERCION ; OR 9
111	111
112	112	(2) PERFORMED BY A MINOR . 10
113	113
114	114	(E) “VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFIC KING” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTED TO 11
115	115	AN ACT OR THE PRACTICE OF S EX TRAFFICKING . 12
116	116
117	117	20–218. 13
118	118
119	119	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO KNO WS OR SUSPECTS THAT A WOMAN IS PREGNANT 14
120	120	MAY NOT ENGAGE , OR CONSPIRE WITH ANO THER INDIVIDUAL TO E NGAGE, IN THE 15
121	121	FOLLOWING CONDUCT WI TH THE INTENT OF DIR ECTING THE PREGNANT WOMAN TO 16
122	122	HAVE AN ABORTION , BASED ON THE PREGNAN T WOMAN DISREGARDING OR 17
123	123	REFUSING THE INDIVID UAL’S DEMAND THAT SHE SE EK AN ABORTION : 18
124	124
125	125	(1) COMMITTING, ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT , OR THREATENING TO 19
126	126	COMMIT PHYSICAL HARM TO THE PREGNANT WOMA N, UNBORN CHILD , OR ANOTHER 20
127	127	INDIVIDUAL; 21
128	128
129	129	(2) COMMITTING, ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT , OR THREATENING TO 22
130	130	COMMIT A VIOLATION O F THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 23
131	131
132	132	(3) REVOKING, ATTEMPTING TO REVOKE , OR THREATENING TO 24
133	133	REVOKE A SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO THE PREGN ANT WOMAN BY AN INST ITUTION 25
134	134	OF HIGHER EDUCATION ; 26
135	135
136	136	(4) DISCHARGING, ATTEMPTING TO DISCHA RGE, OR THREATENING 27
137	137	TO DISCHARGE THE PRE GNANT WOMAN OR ANOTH ER INDIVIDUAL FROM 28
138	138	EMPLOYMENT ; 29
139	139
140	140	(5) CHANGING, ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE , OR THREATENING TO 30 4 SENATE BILL 832
141	141
142	142
143	143	CHANGE THE COMPENSAT ION, TERMS, CONDITIONS, OR PRIVILEGES OF 1
144	144	EMPLOYMENT OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN OR ANOTHER IND IVIDUAL; 2
145	145
146	146	(6) DENYING, ATTEMPTING TO DENY , OR THREATENING TO DE NY ANY 3
147	147	SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TH AT A PREGNANT WOMAN HAS APPLIED FOR , HAS BEEN 4
148	148	RECEIVING, OR IS ELIGIBLE FOR; 5
149	149
150	150	(7) DENYING, REMOVING, OR THREATENING TO D ENY OR REMOVE 6
151	151	FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR HOUSING FROM A DEPEN DENT OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN; 7
152	152
153	153	(8) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL , OR THREATENING TO SE LL THE 8
154	154	PREGNANT WOMAN INTO SEX TRAFFICKING ; 9
155	155
156	156	(9) FORCING, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE , OR THREATENING TO FO RCE 10
157	157	THE PREGNANT WOMAN TO CO NTINUE TO ENGAGE IN SEX TRAFFICKING ; 11
158	158
159	159	(10) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL , OR THREATENING TO SE LL THE 12
160	160	PREGNANT WOMAN TO AN OTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEX 13
161	161	TRAFFICKING; 14
162	162
163	163	(11) FORCING, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE , OR THREATENING TO FO RCE 15
164	164	THE PREGNANT WOMAN T O MOVE TO ANOTHER CI TY, STATE, OR COUNTRY, AGAINST 16
165	165	HER WILL; 17
166	166
167	167	(12) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL , OR THREATENING TO SE LL THE 18
168	168	UNBORN BABY OF THE P REGNANT WOMAN INTO S EX TRAFFICKING ONCE THE 19
169	169	UNBORN BABY IS BORN ; OR 20
170	170
171	171	(13) SEPARATING, ATTEMPTING TO SEPARATE , OR THREATENING TO 21
172	172	SEPARATE THE PREGNAN T WOMAN FROM THE UNB ORN BABY ONCE THE UN BORN 22
173	173	BABY IS BORN. 23
174	174
175	175	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VIO LATES THIS SECTION I S GUILTY OF A 24
176	176	MISDEMEANOR AND ON C ONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEED ING $1,000. 25
177	177
178	178	(C) THE SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR A VIOLATION OF T HIS SECTION SHALL BE 26
179	179	CONSECUTIVE TO AND N OT CONCURRENT WITH A NY OTHER SENTENCE IM POSED 27
180	180	FOR ANY CRIME BASED ON THE ACT ESTABLISH ING THE VIOLATION OF THIS 28
181	181	SECTION. 29
182	182
183	183	20–219. 30
184	184
185	185	(A) (1) A WOMAN WHO IS A VICTI M OF A VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS 31 SENATE BILL 832 5
186	186
187	187
188	188	SUBTITLE MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION FOR MON EY DAMAGES AGAINST T HE 1
189	189	PERPETRATOR , INCLUDING AN ACTION FOR WRONGFUL DEATH U NDER TITLE 3, 2
190	190	SUBTITLE 9 OF THE COURTS ARTICLE IF APPLICABLE . 3
191	191
192	192	(2) AN ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION WITHOUT 4
193	193	REGARD TO: 5
194	194
195	195	(I) WHETHER AN ABORTION W AS ACTUALLY PERFORME D; 6
196	196
197	197	(II) WHETHER THE DEFENDANT WAS CRIMINALLY 7
198	198	PROSECUTED ; OR 8
199	199
200	200	(III) THE OUTCOME OF ANY CR IMINAL PROSECUTION . 9
201	201
202	202	(3) A WOMAN WHO IS SUCCESS FUL IN A CIVIL ACTIO N UNDER THIS 10
203	203	SUBSECTION IS ENTITL ED TO REASONABLE ATT ORNEY’S FEES. 11
204	204
205	205	(B) (1) A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO I S THE VICTIM OF A VI OLATION OF § 12
206	206	20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY BRING AN ACTION IN C IRCUIT COURT SEEKING TO 13
207	207	PREVENT T HE PERPETRATOR FROM COMMITTING A SUBSEQU ENT VIOLATION OR 14
208	208	CEASE AN ONGOING VIO LATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
209	209
210	210	(2) IN AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 16
211	211	SUBSECTION, THE COURT SHALL : AND 17
212	212
213	213	(I) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH COUNSEL I F 18
214	214	REQUESTED; AND 19
215	215
216	216	(II) GRANT ANY RELIEF NECE SSARY TO PREVENT FUR THER 20
217	217	VIOLATION OR CEASE A N ONGOING VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 21
218	218
219	219	20–220. 22
220	220
221	221	(A) IF A MINOR IS DENIED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FR OM A PARENT , 23
222	222	GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN DUE TO THE MINOR’S REFUSAL TO HAVE AN ABORTI ON, 24
223	223	THE MINOR SHALL BE C ONSIDERED AN EMANCIP ATED MINOR FOR PURPO SES OF 25
224	224	ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBL IC ASSISTANCE BENEFI TS. 26
225	225
226	226	(B) ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO A MINOR 27
227	227	EMANCIPATED UNDER TH IS SECTION MAY NOT B E USED TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION. 28
228	228
229	229	20–221. 29
230	230	6 SENATE BILL 832
231	231
232	232
233	233	AS A CONDITION OF LIC ENSURE, A HEALTH CARE FACILI TY THAT PERFORMS 1
234	234	ABORTIONS SHALL POST SIGNS CONSPICUOUSLY IN A WAITING ROOM , 2
235	235	CONSULTATION ROOM , AND PROCEDURE ROOM S TATING THE FOLLOWING : 3
236	236
237	237	“IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE , REGARDLESS O F HIS OR HER 4
238	238	RELATIONSHIP TO YOU , TO FORCE YOU TO HAVE AN ABORTION . YOU HAVE THE 5
239	239	RIGHT TO CONTACT ANY STATE OR LOCAL LAW EN FORCEMENT OR SOCIAL SERVICE 6
240	240	AGENCY TO RECEIVE PR OTECTION FROM ANY AC TUAL OR THREATENED P HYSICAL, 7
241	241	EMOTIONAL, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABU SE. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO PERFORM , 8
242	242	INDUCE, PRESCRIBE FOR , OR PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MEANS FOR AN ABO RTION 9
243	243	WITHOUT YOUR VOLUNTA RY CONSENT.”; 10
244	244
245	245	(2) POST CONSPICUOUS SIGN S IN A WAITING ROOM , CONSULTATION 11
246	246	ROOM, AND PROCEDURE ROOM T HAT INCLUDE: 12
247	247
248	248	(I) INFORMATIO N ON HOW TO REPORT SEX TRAFFICKING AND 13
249	249	A STATEMENT THAT VICTI MS OF HUMAN TRAFFICK ING ARE PROTECTED UN DER 14
250	250	INTERNATIONAL , FEDERAL, AND STATE LAW; AND 15
251	251
252	252	(II) INFORMATION AND VISUA L REPRESENTATION ON HOW TO 16
253	253	USE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TO INDICATE THAT THE PREGNANT WOMAN IS 17
254	254	BEING SEX TRAFFICKED . 18
255	255
256	256	20–222. 19
257	257
258	258	(A) BEFORE PERFORMING AN ABORTION OR DISPENSING AN 20
259	259	ABORTION–INDUCING DRUG , A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHALL, IN A PRIVATE 21
260	260	ROOM: 22
261	261
262	262	(1) ASK THE PREGNANT WOMA N IF SHE IS BEING CO ERCED, 23
263	263	THREATENED , OR FORCED TO HAVE AN ABORTION ; 24
264	264
265	265	(2) ASK THE PREGNANT WOMA N IF SHE IS BEING SEX TRAFFICKED; 25
266	266
267	267	(3) OFFER TO PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH INFORMATION 26
268	268	ABOUT ASSISTANCE , COUNSELING , AND PROTECTIVE SERVI CES OFFERED BY SOCIA L 27
269	269	SERVICES AND LAW ENF ORCEMENT AGENCIES ; 28
270	270
271	271	(4) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH A TELEPHO NE THAT SHE 29
272	272	MAY USE TO MAKE A PR IVATE PHONE CALL ; AND 30
273	273
274	274	(5) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH AN ALTERN ATIVE EXIT 31
275	275	FROM THE FACILITY . 32 SENATE BILL 832 7
276	276
277	277
278	278
279	279	(B) (1) AN EMPLOYEE OR A VOLU NTEER OF A HEALTH CA RE FACILITY 1
280	280	WHO KNOWS , ALLEGES, OR SUSPECTS A PREGNA NT WOMAN TO BE A VIC TIM OF A 2
281	281	VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE PER SONALLY SHALL MAKE A REPORT TO 3
282	282	A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEM ENT AGENCY WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE DISC OVERY OF 4
283	283	THE KNOWLEDGE , ALLEGATION, OR SUSPICION. 5
284	284
285	285	(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS 6
286	286	SUBSECTION SHALL CON TAIN: 7
287	287
288	288	(I) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PREGNANT WOMA N; 8
289	289
290	290	(II) IF THE PREGNANT WOMAN IS A MINOR, THE NAME AND 9
291	291	ADDRESS OF A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE M INOR; AND 10
292	292
293	293	(III) ANY RELEVANT INFORMAT ION THE EMPLOYEE OR 11
294	294	VOLUNTEER HAS RELATI NG TO THE KNOWN , ALLEGED, OR SUSPECTED COERCIO N. 12
295	295
296	296	(3) IF AN EMPLOYEE OR A VOLUNTEER KNOWS , ALLEGES, OR 13
297	297	SUSPECTS THAT A PREG NANT WOMAN IS A VICT IM OF A VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF 14
298	298	THIS SUBTITLE, A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHALL ORALLY INFORM THE PREGNANT 15
299	299	WOMAN THAT : 16
300	300
301	301	(I) COERCION IS PROHIBITE D UNDER § 20–218 OF THIS 17
302	302	SUBTITLE; 18
303	303
304	304	(II) THE PREGNANT WOMAN MA Y HAVE LEGAL REMEDIE S; AND 19
305	305
306	306	(III) A REQUEST OR DEMAND FO R AN ABORTION MADE B Y THE 20
307	307	FATHER OF THE UNBORN CHILD DOES NOT RELIE VE THE FATHER OF HIS FINANCIAL 21
308	308	SUPPORT RESPONSIBILI TIES. 22
309	309
310	310	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 23
311	311	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MAY NOT PERFORM AN A BORTION ON A PREGNAN T WOMAN 24
312	312	WHO IS KNOWN , ALLEGED, OR SUSPECTED TO BE A VICTIM OF A VIOLATIO N OF § 25
313	313	20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE WIT HIN 24 HOURS AFTER THE LATE R OF: 26
314	314
315	315	(I) THE DISCOVERY OF THE KNOWLEDGE , ALLEGATION, OR 27
316	316	SUSPICION; OR 28
317	317
318	318	(II) INFORMING THE PREG NANT WOMAN OF HER RI GHTS UNDER 29
319	319	SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B)(3) OF THIS SECTION. 30
320	320	8 SENATE BILL 832
321	321
322	322
323	323	(2) THE 24–HOUR WAITING PERIOD REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH 1
324	324	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION M AY BE WAIVED IF , IN A PHYSICIAN’S BEST MEDICAL 2
325	325	JUDGMENT, AN ABORTION IS NECES SARY TO PREVENT THE DEATH OF THE 3
326	326	PREGNANT WOMAN OR SU BSTANTIAL AND IRREVE RSIBLE INJURY TO ONE OF THE 4
327	327	PREGNANT WOMAN ’S MAJOR BODILY FUNCT IONS. 5
328	328
329	329	(D) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR 6
330	330	AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NO T EXCEEDING $500. 7
331	331
332	332	(E) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY MAY NOT EMPLOY AN IN DIVIDUAL OR ALLOW 8
333	333	AN INDIVIDUAL TO VOL UNTEER IF THE INDIVI DUAL HAS COMMITTED A VIOLATION 9
334	334	OF THIS SECTION. 10
335	335
336	336	20–223. 11
337	337
338	338	ON THE REQUEST OF THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTING AN ALLEGED VIOLATION 12
339	339	OF § 20–218 OR § 20–222 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AG ENCY SHALL 13
340	340	NOTIFY THE INDIVIDUA L MAKING THE REPORT AT LEAST 12 HOURS BEFORE THE 14
341	341	LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY’S INITIAL CONTACT WI TH THE ALLEGED VIOLA TOR. 15
342	342
343	343	20–224. 16
344	344
345	345	THIS ACT MAY NOT BE CONSTR UED TO ALTER EXISTIN G CRIMINAL LAW 17
346	346	REGARDING CRIMES ARISING FROM SEX TRAFFICKING . 18
347	347
348	348	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
349	349	October 1, 2023. 20
350	350