H-4342              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2015

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Fuhrman, B. Williams, Chandler, Patrick, Amondson, Butterfield, Padden, J. Williams and D. Sommers

Read first time 2/8/88 and referred to Committee on Health Care.

AN ACT Relating to the protection of physically or mentally disabled children; amending RCW 18.71.240; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

        Sec. 2.  Section 1, chapter 328, Laws of 1981 and RCW 18.71.240 are each amended to read as follows:

          The right of medical treatment of ((an infant)) a child born alive in the course of an abortion procedure shall be the same as the right of ((an infant)) a child born prematurely of equal gestational age.  Appropriate medical treatment shall not be denied to any born child because of the race, color, national origin, sex, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap or disease of such infant, or because of the race, color, national origin, creed, marital status, age, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap or disease of a parent of such infant.  The provision of nutrition and hydration shall not be denied to any born infant in any circumstance unless the infant is physically unable to tolerate such provision.