Louisiana Bill Prohibiting Public Funding of Abortion (HB 606)

HB 606 would prohibit entities that perform abortions from receiving public funding, unless the abortion was necessary to save the life of the pregnant patient, the pregnancy was a result of incest or rape, or the pregnancy was diagnosed as medically futile.

The bill would prohibit any institution, board, commission, department, agency, official, or employee of the state, from contracting with, awarding any grant to, or otherwise bestowing any funding upon an entity or organization that performs abortions, or contracts with an entity or organization that performs abortions.

The prohibition would apply to state funds, federal funds, and any other funds, that may be used for purposes of contracting for services, providing reimbursements, or grant issuance.

STATUS

Signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on June 2, 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.***

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People

Legal Cases

• June Medical Services v. Gee (2016)