Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB884 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 EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0884
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 884
8	8	J1, F2 4lr3288
9	9	HB 1043/23 – HGO CF SB 862
10	10	By: Delegates Miller, Adams, Arentz, Ghrist, Hornberger, Hutchinson, Jacobs,
11	11	McComas, Metzgar, Munoz, Rose, Szeliga, Tomlinson, and Wivell
12	12	Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
13	13	Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Public Health – Pregnancy – Coercion 2
20	20	(Protecting Pregnant Women Against Coercive Abuse and Human Trafficking) 3
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of prohibiting an individual from committing or threatening certain 4
23	23	actions, including certain actions related to sex trafficking, with the intent of 5
24	24	coercing a pregnant woman to have an abortion; providing that a pregnant minor is 6
25	25	considered an emancipated minor for purposes of eligibility for public assistance if 7
26	26	the minor is denied financial support from a parent or guardian due to the minor’s 8
27	27	refusal to have an abortion; requiring health care facilities that perform abortions 9
28	28	and public senior higher education institutions that provide abortion care services to 10
29	29	post certain signs in certain rooms of the facility or institution; requiring health care 11
30	30	providers to comply with a certain waiting period before performing an abortion if 12
31	31	an employee or a volunteer suspects that a pregnant woman is being coerced into 13
32	32	having an abortion; and generally relating to abortion. 14
33	33
34	34	BY adding to 15
35	35	Article – Health – General 16
36	36	Section 20–217 through 20–224 to be under the new part “Part V. Coercive Actions” 17
37	37	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
38	38	(2023 Replacement Volume) 19
39	39
40	40	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
41	41	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
42	42
43	43	Article – Health – General 22
44	44
45	45	20–215. RESERVED. 23
46	46
47	47	20–216. RESERVED. 24 2 HOUSE BILL 884
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	PART V. COERCIVE ACTIONS. 1
52	52
53	53	20–217. 2
54	54
55	55	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 3
56	56	INDICATED. 4
57	57
58	58	(B) (1) “ABORTION” MEANS THE ACT OF USI NG OR PRESCRIBING AN 5
59	59	INSTRUMENT , A MEDICINE, A DRUG, OR ANY OTHER SUBSTAN CE, DEVICE, OR MEANS 6
60	60	WITH THE INTENT TO TERMINATE THE CLINICALLY DIAGN OSABLE PREGNANCY OF A 7
61	61	WOMAN, WITH KNOWLEDGE THAT THE TERMINATION BY T HOSE MEANS WILL WITH 8
62	62	REASONABLE LIKELIHOO D CAUSE THE DEATH OF THE UNBORN CHILD . 9
63	63
64	64	(2) “ABORTION” DOES NOT INCLUDE THE USE OR PRESCRIPTION OF 10
65	65	AN INSTRUMENT, A MEDICINE, A DRUG, OR ANY OTHER SUBSTAN CE, DEVICE, OR 11
66	66	MEANS IF USED OR PRE SCRIBED TO: 12
67	67
68	68	(I) SAVE THE LIFE OR PRES ERVE THE HEALTH OF A N UNBORN 13
69	69	CHILD; 14
70	70
71	71	(II) REMOVE A DEAD UNBORN CHILD RESULTING FROM 15
72	72	SPONTANEOUS PREGNANC Y LOSS; 16
73	73
74	74	(III) REMOVE AN ECTOPIC PRE GNANCY; OR 17
75	75
76	76	(IV) TREAT A MATERNAL DISE ASE OR ILLNESS FOR W HICH THE 18
77	77	PRESCRIBED DRUG IS I NDICATED. 19
78	78
79	79	(C) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–114 OF 20
80	80	THIS ARTICLE. 21
81	81
82	82	(D) “PUBLIC SENIOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N” HAS THE MEANING 22
83	83	STATED IN § 10–101 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE. 23
84	84
85	85	(E) “SEX TRAFFICKING ” MEANS THE RECRUITMEN T, HARBORING, 24
86	86	TRANSPORTATION , PROVISION, OBTAINING, PATRONIZING, OR SOLICITING OF AN 25
87	87	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE P URPOSE OF A COMMERCI AL SEX ACT THAT IS: 26
88	88
89	89	(1) INDUCED BY FORCE , FRAUD, OR COERCION ; OR 27
90	90
91	91	(2) PERFORMED BY A MINOR . 28
92	92	HOUSE BILL 884 3
93	93
94	94
95	95	20–218. 1
96	96
97	97	(A) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO KNO WS OR SUSPECTS THAT A WOMAN IS PREGNANT 2
98	98	MAY NOT ENGAGE , OR CONSPIRE WITH ANO THER INDIVIDUAL TO E NGAGE, IN THE 3
99	99	FOLLOWING CONDUCT WI TH THE INTENT OF DIR ECTING THE PREGNANT W OMAN TO 4
100	100	HAVE AN ABORTION , BASED ON THE PREGNAN T WOMAN DISREGARDING OR 5
101	101	REFUSING THE INDIVID UAL’S DEMAND THAT SHE SE EK AN ABORTION : 6
102	102
103	103	(1) COMMITTING, ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT , OR THREATENING TO 7
104	104	COMMIT PHYSICAL HARM TO THE PREGNANT WOMA N, THE UNBORN CHILD , OR 8
105	105	ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL ; 9
106	106
107	107	(2) COMMITTING, ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT , OR THREATENING TO 10
108	108	COMMIT A VIOLATION O F THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE; 11
109	109
110	110	(3) REVOKING, ATTEMPTING TO REVOKE , OR THREATENING TO 12
111	111	REVOKE A SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO THE PREGN ANT WOMAN BY AN INST ITUTION 13
112	112	OF HIGHER EDUCATION ; 14
113	113
114	114	(4) DISCHARGING, ATTEMPTING TO DISCHA RGE, OR THREATENING 15
115	115	TO DISCHARGE THE PRE GNANT WOMAN OR ANOTH ER INDIVIDUAL F ROM 16
116	116	EMPLOYMENT ; 17
117	117
118	118	(5) CHANGING, ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE , OR THREATENING TO 18
119	119	CHANGE THE COMPENSAT ION, TERMS, CONDITIONS, OR PRIVILEGES OF 19
120	120	EMPLOYMENT OF THE PR EGNANT WOMAN OR ANOT HER INDIVIDUAL ; 20
121	121
122	122	(6) DENYING, ATTEMPTING TO DENY , OR THREATENING TO DE NY ANY 21
123	123	SOCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT THE PREGNANT WOMAN H AS APPLIED FOR , HAS BEEN 22
124	124	RECEIVING, OR IS ELIGIBLE FOR; 23
125	125
126	126	(7) DENYING, REMOVING, OR THREATENING TO DE NY OR REMOVE 24
127	127	FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR HOUSING FROM A DEPEN DENT OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN; 25
128	128
129	129	(8) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL, OR THREATENING TO SE LL THE 26
130	130	PREGNANT WOMAN INTO SEX TRAFFICKING ; 27
131	131
132	132	(9) FORCING, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE , OR THREATENING TO FO RCE 28
133	133	THE PREGNANT WOMAN T O CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN SEX TRAFFICKING ; 29
134	134
135	135	(10) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL , OR THREATENING TO SE LL THE 30
136	136	PREGNANT WOMAN TO AN OTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEX 31
137	137	TRAFFICKING; 32 4 HOUSE BILL 884
138	138
139	139
140	140
141	141	(11) FORCING, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE , OR THREATENING TO FO RCE 1
142	142	THE PREGNANT WOMAN T O MOVE TO ANOTHER CI TY, STATE, OR COUNTRY AGAINST 2
143	143	HER WILL; 3
144	144
145	145	(12) SELLING, ATTEMPTING TO SELL , OR THREATENING TO SELL T HE 4
146	146	UNBORN BABY OF THE P REGNANT WOMAN INTO S EX TRAFFICKING ONCE THE 5
147	147	UNBORN BABY IS BORN ; OR 6
148	148
149	149	(13) SEPARATING, ATTEMPTING TO SEPARA TE, OR THREATENING TO 7
150	150	SEPARATE THE PREGNAN T WOMAN FROM THE UNB ORN BABY ONCE THE UN BORN 8
151	151	BABY IS BORN. 9
152	152
153	153	(B) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO VIO LATES THIS SECTION I S GUILTY OF A 10
154	154	MISDEMEANOR AND ON C ONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NOT EXCEED ING $1,000. 11
155	155
156	156	(C) THE SENTENCE IMPOSED FOR A VIOLATION OF T HIS SECTION SHALL BE 12
157	157	CONSECUTIVE TO AND N OT CONCURRENT WITH A NY OTHER SENTENCE IMPOSED 13
158	158	FOR ANY CRIME BASED ON THE ACT ESTABLISH ING THE VIOLATION OF THIS 14
159	159	SECTION. 15
160	160
161	161	20–219. 16
162	162
163	163	(A) (1) A WOMAN WHO IS A VICTI M OF A VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS 17
164	164	SUBTITLE MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION FOR MON EY DAMAGES AGAINST T HE 18
165	165	PERPETRATOR , INCLUDING AN ACTION FOR WRONGFUL DEATH U NDER TITLE 3, 19
166	166	SUBTITLE 9 OF THE COURTS ARTICLE IF APPLICABLE . 20
167	167
168	168	(2) AN ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION WITHOUT 21
169	169	REGARD TO: 22
170	170
171	171	(I) WHETHER AN ABORTION W AS ACTUALLY PERFORME D; 23
172	172
173	173	(II) WHETHER THE DEFENDANT WAS CRIMINALLY 24
174	174	PROSECUTED ; OR 25
175	175
176	176	(III) THE OUTCOME OF ANY CR IMINAL PROSECUTION . 26
177	177
178	178	(3) A WOMAN WHO IS SUCCESS FUL IN A CIVIL ACTION UNDER T HIS 27
179	179	SUBSECTION IS ENTITL ED TO REASONABLE ATT ORNEY’S FEES. 28
180	180
181	181	(B) (1) A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO I S THE VICTIM OF A VI OLATION OF § 29
182	182	20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY BRING AN ACTION IN C IRCUIT COURT SEEKING TO 30 HOUSE BILL 884 5
183	183
184	184
185	185	PREVENT THE PERPETRA TOR FROM COMMITTING A SUBSEQUENT VIOLATI ON OR 1
186	186	CEASE AN ONGOING VIO LATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
187	187
188	188	(2) IN AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
189	189	SUBSECTION, THE COURT SHALL : 4
190	190
191	191	(I) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH COUNSEL I F 5
192	192	REQUESTED ; AND 6
193	193
194	194	(II) GRANT ANY R ELIEF NECESSARY TO P REVENT FURTHER 7
195	195	VIOLATION OR CEASE A N ONGOING VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
196	196
197	197	20–220. 9
198	198
199	199	(A) IF A MINOR IS DENIED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FR OM A PARENT , 10
200	200	GUARDIAN, OR CUSTODIAN DUE TO THE MINOR’S REFUSAL TO HAVE AN ABORTION, 11
201	201	THE MINOR SHALL BE CONSIDERED AN EMANCIPATED MINOR FOR PURPOSES OF 12
202	202	ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBL IC ASSISTANCE BENEFI TS. 13
203	203
204	204	(B) ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO A MINOR 14
205	205	EMANCIPATED UNDER TH IS SECTION MAY NOT B E USED TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION. 15
206	206
207	207	20–221. 16
208	208
209	209	EACH HEALTH CARE FACILITY THAT P ERFORMS ABORTIONS , AS A CONDITION 17
210	210	OF LICENSURE , AND EACH PUBLIC SENI OR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION THAT 18
211	211	PROVIDES ABORTION CA RE SERVICES SHALL : 19
212	212
213	213	(1) POST SIGNS CONSPICUOU SLY IN A WAITING ROO M, 20
214	214	CONSULTATION ROOM , AND PROCEDURE ROOM STATING THE FOLLOWIN G: 21
215	215
216	216	“IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR ANYONE , REGARDLESS OF HIS OR HER 22
217	217	RELATIONSHIP TO YOU , TO FORCE YOU TO HAVE AN ABORTION . YOU HAVE THE 23
218	218	RIGHT TO CONTACT ANY STATE OR LOCAL LAW EN FORCEMENT OR SOCIAL SERVICE 24
219	219	AGENCY TO RECEIVE PR OTECTION FROM ANY ACTUAL OR THREAT ENED PHYSICAL , 25
220	220	EMOTIONAL, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ABU SE. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO PERFORM , 26
221	221	INDUCE, PRESCRIBE FOR , OR PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MEANS FOR AN ABO RTION 27
222	222	WITHOUT YOUR VOLUNTA RY CONSENT.”; AND 28
223	223
224	224	(2) POST CONSPICUOUS SIGN S IN A WAITING R OOM, CONSULTATION 29
225	225	ROOM, AND PROCEDURE ROOM T HAT INCLUDE: 30
226	226
227	227	(I) INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPORT SEX TRAFFICKI NG AND 31 6 HOUSE BILL 884
228	228
229	229
230	230	A STATEMENT THAT VIC TIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFI CKING ARE PROTECTED UNDER 1
231	231	INTERNATIONAL , FEDERAL, AND STATE LAW; AND 2
232	232
233	233	(II) INFORMATION AND VISUA L REPRESENTATION ON HOW TO 3
234	234	USE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE TO INDICATE THAT THE PREGNANT WO MAN IS 4
235	235	BEING SEX TRAFFICKED . 5
236	236
237	237	20–222. 6
238	238
239	239	(A) BEFORE PERFORMING AN ABORTION OR DISPENSI NG AN 7
240	240	ABORTION–INDUCING DRUG , A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER SHALL, IN A PRIVATE 8
241	241	ROOM: 9
242	242
243	243	(1) ASK THE PREGNANT WOMA N WHETHER SHE IS BEI NG COERCED , 10
244	244	THREATENED , OR FORCED TO HAVE AN ABORTION; 11
245	245
246	246	(2) ASK THE PREGNANT WOMA N WHETHER SHE IS BEI NG SEX 12
247	247	TRAFFICKED; 13
248	248
249	249	(3) OFFER TO PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH INFORMATION 14
250	250	ABOUT ASSISTANCE , COUNSELING , AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES OFFERED BY SOCIAL 15
251	251	SERVICES AND LAW ENF ORCEMENT AGENCIES ; 16
252	252
253	253	(4) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH A TELEPHO NE THAT SHE 17
254	254	MAY USE TO MAKE A PR IVATE PHONE CALL ; AND 18
255	255
256	256	(5) PROVIDE THE PREGNANT WOMAN WITH AN ALTERN ATIVE EXIT 19
257	257	FROM THE FACILIT Y. 20
258	258
259	259	(B) (1) AN EMPLOYEE OR A VOLU NTEER OF A HEALTH CA RE FACILITY OR 21
260	260	A PUBLIC SENIOR HIGH ER EDUCATION INSTITU TION THAT PROVIDES A BORTION 22
261	261	CARE SERVICES UNDER § 15–136 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE WHO KNOWS , 23
262	262	ALLEGES, OR SUSPECTS A PREGNA NT WOMAN TO BE A VIC TIM OF A VIOLATION OF § 24
263	263	20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE PER SONALLY SHALL MAKE A REPORT TO A LOCAL LA W 25
264	264	ENFORCEMENT AGENCY W ITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE DISC OVERY OF THE 26
265	265	KNOWLEDGE , ALLEGATION, OR SUSPICION. 27
266	266
267	267	(2) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 28
268	268	SUBSECTION SHALL CON TAIN: 29
269	269
270	270	(I) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PREGNANT WOMA N; 30
271	271
272	272	(II) IF THE PREGNANT WOMAN IS A MINOR, THE NAME AND 31 HOUSE BILL 884 7
273	273
274	274
275	275	ADDRESS OF A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE M INOR; AND 1
276	276
277	277	(III) ANY RELEVANT INFORMAT ION THE EMPLOYEE OR 2
278	278	VOLUNTEER HAS RELATI NG TO THE KNOWN , ALLEGED, OR SUSPECTED COERCIO N. 3
279	279
280	280	(3) IF AN EMPLOYEE OR A V OLUNTEER KNOWS , ALLEGES, OR 4
281	281	SUSPECTS THAT A PREG NANT WOMAN IS A VICT IM OF A VIOLATION OF § 20–218 OF 5
282	282	THIS SUBTITLE, A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER SHALL ORALLY INFO RM THE PREGNANT 6
283	283	WOMAN THAT : 7
284	284
285	285	(I) COERCION IS PROHIBITED UNDER § 20–218 OF THIS 8
286	286	SUBTITLE; 9
287	287
288	288	(II) THE PREGNANT WOMAN MA Y HAVE LEGAL REMEDIE S; AND 10
289	289
290	290	(III) A REQUEST OR DEMAND FO R AN ABORTION MADE B Y THE 11
291	291	FATHER OF THE UNBORN CHILD DOES NOT RELIE VE THE FATHER OF HIS FINANCIAL 12
292	292	SUPPORT RESPONSIBILI TIES. 13
293	293
294	294	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 14
295	295	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MAY NOT PERFORM AN A BORTION ON A PREGNAN T WOMAN 15
296	296	WHO IS KNOWN , ALLEGED, OR SUSPECTED TO BE A VICTIM OF A VIOLATIO N OF § 16
297	297	20–218 OF THIS SUBTITLE WIT HIN 24 HOURS AFTER THE LATER OF : 17
298	298
299	299	(I) THE DISCOVERY OF THE KNOWLEDGE , ALLEGATION, OR 18
300	300	SUSPICION; OR 19
301	301
302	302	(II) INFORMING THE PREGNAN T WOMAN OF HER RIGHT S UNDER 20
303	303	SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B)(3) OF THIS SECTION. 21
304	304
305	305	(2) THE 24–HOUR WAITING PERIOD REQUIRED UNDER PARAG RAPH 22
306	306	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY BE WAIVED IF, IN A PHYSICIAN’S BEST MEDICAL 23
307	307	JUDGMENT, AN ABORTION IS NECES SARY TO PREVENT THE DEATH OF THE 24
308	308	PREGNANT WOMAN OR SU BSTANTIAL AND IRREVE RSIBLE INJURY TO ONE OF THE 25
309	309	PREGNANT WOMAN ’S MAJOR BODILY FUNCT IONS. 26
310	310
311	311	(D) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR 27
312	312	AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE NO T EXCEEDING $500. 28
313	313
314	314	(E) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR PUBLIC SENIOR HIG HER EDUCATION 29
315	315	INSTITUTION THAT PRO VIDES ABORTION CARE SERVICES UNDER § 15–136 OF THE 30
316	316	EDUCATION ARTICLE MAY NOT EMPLO Y AN INDIVIDUAL OR A LLOW AN INDIVIDUAL 31
317	317	TO VOLUNTEER IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS COMMI TTED A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION. 32 8 HOUSE BILL 884
318	318
319	319
320	320
321	321	20–223. 1
322	322
323	323	ON THE REQUEST OF THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTING AN ALLEGED VIOLATION 2
324	324	OF § 20–218 OR § 20–222 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A LAW ENFORCEMENT AG ENCY SHALL 3
325	325	NOTIFY THE INDIVIDUA L MAKING THE REPORT AT LEAST 12 HOURS BEFORE THE 4
326	326	LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN CY’S INITIAL CONTACT WI TH THE ALLEGED VIOLA TOR. 5
327	327
328	328	20–224. 6
329	329
330	330	THIS PART MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO ALTER E XISTING CRIMINAL LAW 7
331	331	REGARDIN G CRIMES ARISING FRO M SEX TRAFFICKING . 8
332	332
333	333	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
334	334	October 1, 2024. 10
335	335