§ 50-20-401

50-20-401. Offense of partial-birth abortion -- exception -- definitions -- penalties. (1) Except as provided in this section, a person commits an offense if the person purposely, knowingly, or negligently causes a partial-birth abortion. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to: (a) a partial-birth abortion caused to save the life of a woman because the woman's life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including a life-endangering condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, if no other medical procedure would save the life of the woman; or (b) the woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed. (3) As used in this section, the following definitions apply: (a) 'Knowingly' has the meaning provided in 45-2-101. (b) 'Negligently' has the meaning provided in 45-2-101. (c) (i) 'Partial-birth abortion' means an abortion in which the person performing the abortion partially vaginally delivers a living human fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery. (ii) A procedure that constitutes a partial-birth abortion is one in which the following steps occur: (A) the living fetus is removed intact from the uterus until only the head remains in

e delivery. (ii) A procedure that constitutes a partial-birth abortion is one in which the following steps occur: (A) the living fetus is removed intact from the uterus until only the head remains in the uterus; (B) all or a part of the intracranial contents of the fetus are evacuated; (C) the head of the fetus is compressed; and (D) following fetal demise, the fetus is removed from the birth canal. (d) 'Purposely' has the meaning provided in 45-2-101. (4) A person committing the offense provided for in subsection (1) is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by: (a) a fine of not more than $50,000; (b) imprisonment in a correctional facility for a term of not less than 5 years and not more than 10 years; or (c) both fine and imprisonment as provided in subsections (4)(a) and (4)(b); and (d) permanent revocation of the license of the physician performing the partial-birth abortion. The provisions of 37-1-203 and 37-1-205 do not apply to a physician whose license is revoked pursuant to this section. History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 314, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 479, L. 1999.