Bill Banning Disability Abortions Gets First Committee Hearing

The suffering and societal neglect of persons with disabilities calls for caring and compassionate solutions that recognize the value of the individual, not for the violence of abortion that seeks to eliminate the disabled as a burden unworthy of our love and protection. HB 1221 (Grall) prohibits a physician from performing an abortion if the physician knows, or should know, that the woman is seeking the abortion solely on the basis of a prenatal test result or fetal diagnosis of a disability or the potential of a disability. The bill defines disability as any disease, defect or disorder that is genetically inherited including, but not limited to, physical disabilities or disfigurement, mental or intellectual disabilities or Down syndrome. The bill provides an exception to this prohibition if the abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. Though the FCCB seeks to make all abortions illegal and unthinkable, it supports this measure as an incremental step that limits its harm. HB 1221 was passed (11-7) by its first committee of reference, Professions & Public Health Subcommittee. The Senate companion, SB 1664 (Rodriguez, A.), has yet to be heard in committee.