PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE IN UTAH: ACT NOW!

Rep. Carl Wimmer's HB 12 is a threat to
reproductive choice in Utah.

HB 12, "Criminal Homicide and Abortion Amendments," passed out of the House of Representatives and is headed for a committee hearing in the Senate. Although the bill was modified in the House to provide some additional protections for women, the bill still remains a threat to reproductive choice in Utah.

The ACLU of Utah urges you to take STRONG ACTION to help us defeat this measure. HB 12 will be heard by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee SOON - likely this week. If your senator serves on this committee, we urge you to please contact that individual and ask him or her to vote AGAINST HB12. If your senator does not serve on this committee, we ask that you contact him or her to express your view, in the likelihood that the bill is passed out of this committee.

Find your legislator HERE: http://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Sen. D. Chris Buttars, Chair (R) dcbuttars@utahsenate.org Sen. J. Stuart Adams (R) sadams@utahsenate.org Sen. Allen M. Christensen (R) achristensen@utahsenate.org

Sen. David P. Hinkins (R) dhinkins@utahsenate.org Sen. Patricia W. Jones (D) pjones@utahsenate.org Sen. Luz Robles (D) lrobles@utahsenate.org

TALKING POINTS:

• HB 12 was introduced by Rep. Carl Wimmer in an attempt to close a so-called "abortion loophole," brought to his attention by the recent unfortunate situation where a 17-year old pregnant girl took intentional steps to terminate her pregnancy.
• HB 12 removes immunity for women who seek to obtain or obtain an unlawful abortion. An unlawful abortion under HB 12 is any and all action that results in the death of a fetus that is not considered a medical procedure done under a physician's care.
• Women who engage in behavior that is perceived as "knowing" or "reckless" and who then suffer a miscarriage are potentially vulnerable to criminal investigation and prosecution. For example, a woman who fails to wear a seatbelt and is in a car accident could be charged with reckless homicide, should she miscarry. Likewise, a pregnant woman who has a substance abuse problem is likely to forego necessary prenatal care out of fear that she could be prosecuted for "knowing" or "reckless" homicide by continuing to use illegal substances while pregnant.
• Ask your senator to amend this bill to make "knowing" or "reckless" action by a woman immune from investigation or prosecution for criminal homicide. With this amendment, the bill would target "intentional" acts, while avoiding investigation and prosecution for women who do not actually intend to obtain unlawful abortions.

The Constitution grants the government its power and the Bill of Rights restricts that power and guarantees individual rights and liberties. The ACLU of Utah works to ensure that our government respects these limits.

This Action Alert was sent by the ACLU of Utah Union, 355 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103