H-4351.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2759
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Thompson, Pelesky, Fuhrman and Hymes
Read first time 01/18/96. Referred to Committee on Appropriations.
AN ACT Relating to limiting public funding for abortions; adding a new section to chapter 9.02 RCW; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9.02 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Public funds shall not be used by the state or local governments, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, to pay or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency, organization, or facility for the performance of any induced abortion.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply under the following circumstances:
(a) Where the abortion is necessary to prevent the death of either the pregnant woman or her unborn child under circumstances where every reasonable effort is made to preserve the life of each;
(b) Where, on the basis of a physician's reasonable, good-faith clinical judgment, a medical emergency exists that so complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman or her unborn child as to necessitate the immediate abortion of her pregnancy for which a delay will create serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman or her unborn child under circumstances where every reasonable effort is made to preserve the life and health of each;
(c) Where the pregnancy is a result of any offense involving sexual intercourse as defined in RCW 9A.44.010 and where the offense has been reported to a law enforcement agency within seven days from the time the offense occurred; or
(d) Where it is otherwise required by federal law as determined to be binding on the state of Washington by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) Public funds may not be used in any circumstance to pay or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency, organization, or facility for the performance of any induced abortion unless it has been confirmed that the household income of the pregnant women does not exceed ninety percent of the federal poverty level.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
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