Idaho Ultrasound Availability Bill (H 516)

H 516 would require a physician to inform a pregnant woman seeking an abortion of the availability of ultrasound imaging and heart tone monitoring at least twenty-four hours prior to the procedure.

The bill would require the Department of Health to compile a list of providers that perform free ultrasounds. This list would need to be provided to a woman seeking an abortion. A statement should be included indicating that a patient has the right to obtain a free ultrasound, view an ultrasound image and hear hear tone monitoring.

Except in the case of a medical emergency, no abortion may take place unless at least twenty-four hours prior to a procedure the physician informs the patient in person or over the phone that ultrasound imaging and heart tone monitoring are available.

STATUS

Introduced by the House of Delegate State Affairs Committee.

Signed by Gov. Otter (R) on March 30, 2016. The law will go into effect July 1, 2016.