Louisiana Bill Extending Abortion Procedure Waiting Period (HB 386)

This law was last updated on Feb 27, 2017

State

Louisiana

Number

HB 386

Status

Signed into Law

Proposed

Mar 3, 2016

Topics

Informed Consent, Waiting Periods and Forced Counseling

Full Bill Text

www.legis.la.gov

HB 386 would extend the waiting period for a pregnant patient seeking an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours.

The bill includes an exception for pregnant people who certify in writing that they live “one hundred fifty miles or more” from the nearest licensed clinic that provides abortion services. Pregnant people would continue to be exempt from the mandatory waiting period and forced counseling in the case of a medical emergency.

STATUS

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law on May 19, 2016.

***The Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf of several abortion providers challenging seven abortion restrictions (HB 1081; HB 1019; HB 815; SB 33; HB 386; HB 488; and HB 606). The state has agreed to delay enforcement.***