Louisiana Bill Prohibiting Harvesting of Aborted Fetal Remains (HB 815)

This law was last updated on Feb 27, 2017

State

Louisiana

Number

HB 815

Status

Signed into Law

Proposed

Mar 4, 2016

Topics

Fetal Tissue, Human Embryo and Fetal Research, Medication Abortion

Full Bill Text

www.legis.la.gov

HB 815 would prohibit the buying, selling, and any other transfer of the intact body of a human embryo or fetus obtained from an induced abortion. The bill would also prohibit the buying, selling, and any other transfer of organs, tissues, or cells obtained from a human embryo or fetus whose death was caused by an induced abortion.

A person who violates this provision would face criminal penalties relative to the illegal purchase or sale of human organs, as well as civil penalties relative to abortion.

HB 815 would also require a physician who performs or induces an abortion to ensure the fetal remains are disposed of by burial or cremation.

De Facto Medication Abortion Ban

HB 815 effectively bans medication abortion because an embryo miscarried at home through medication abortion cannot in practice be buried or cremated.

Related Legislation

Similar to SB 33.

STATUS

Signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on June 17, 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.***