Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 188 - Regulation of Abortions
Section 188.038 - Pregnant women, bias or discrimination against — findings of general assembly — limitations on performing an abortion, when.

Effective - 28 Aug 2019
188.038. Pregnant women, bias or discrimination against — findings of general assembly — limitations on performing an abortion, when. — 1. The general assembly of this state finds that:
(1) Removing vestiges of any past bias or discrimination against pregnant women, their partners, and their family members, including their unborn children, is an important task for those in the legal, medical, social services, and human services professions;
(2) Ending any current bias or discrimination against pregnant women, their partners, and their family members, including their unborn children, is a legitimate purpose of government in order to guarantee that those who "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights" can enjoy "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness";
(3) The historical relationship of bias or discrimination by some family planning programs and policies towards poor and minority populations, including, but not limited to, the nonconsensual sterilization of mentally ill, poor, minority, and immigrant women and other coercive family planning programs and policies, must be rejected;
(4) Among Missouri residents, the rate of black or African-American women who undergo abortions is significantly higher, about three and one-half* times higher, than the rate of white women who undergo abortions. Among Missouri residents, the rate of black or African-American women who undergo repeat abortions is significantly higher, about one and one-half* times higher, than the rate of white women who undergo repeat abortions;
(5) Performing or inducing an abortion because of the sex of the unborn child is repugnant to the values of equality of females and males and the same opportunities for girls and boys, and furthers a false mindset of female inferiority;
(6) Government has a legitimate interest in preventing the abortion of unborn children with Down Syndrome because it is a form of bias or disability discrimination and victimizes the disabled unborn child at his or her most vulnerable stage. Eliminating unborn children with Down Syndrome raises grave concerns for the lives of those who do live with disabilities. It sends a message of dwindling support for their unique challenges, fosters a false sense that disability is something that could have been avoidable, and is likely to increase the stigma associated with disability.
2. No person shall perform or induce an abortion on a woman if the person knows that the woman is seeking the abortion solely because of a prenatal diagnosis, test, or screening indicating Down Syndrome or the potential of Down Syndrome in an unborn child.
3. No person shall perform or induce an abortion on a woman if the person knows that the woman is seeking the abortion solely because of the sex or race of the unborn child.
4. Any physician or other person who performs or induces or attempts to perform or induce an abortion prohibited by this section shall be subject to all applicable civil penalties under this chapter including, but not limited to, sections 188.065 and 188.085.
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(L. 2019 H.B. 126)
*Words "a half" appear in original rolls.

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Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XII - Public Health and Welfare

Chapter 188 - Regulation of Abortions

Section 188.010 - Intent of general assembly.

Section 188.015 - Definitions.

Section 188.017 - Right to Life of the Unborn Child Act — limitation on abortions, when — affirmative defense — contingent effective date.

Section 188.018 - Severability clause.

Section 188.020 - Physician, required to perform.

Section 188.021 - RU-486, administration of, requirements — limitation on prescribing certain abortion-inducing drugs and chemicals, when, complication plan required — rulemaking authority.

Section 188.023 - Reports of rape or under age eighteen sexual abuse, required to report, how.

Section 188.025 - Hospital required, when.

Section 188.026 - Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act — findings of general assembly — interests of the state of Missouri.

Section 188.027 - Consent, voluntary and informed, required — procedure, contents — information to be presented in person — information on risks — medical emergency, procedure — payment prohibited, when — written materials required, when — emergency...

Section 188.028 - Minors, abortion requirements and procedure.

Section 188.030 - Abortion of viable unborn child prohibited, exceptions — physician duties — violations, penalty — severability — right of intervention, when.

Section 188.031 - Next friend defined for purposes of the procedure for a minor to obtain an abortion.

Section 188.033 - Out-of-state abortion facilities, in-state facilities giving information about, requirements.

Section 188.035 - Death of child aborted alive deemed murder in second degree, when.

Section 188.036 - Prohibited abortions, those done with intent to use fetal organs or tissue for transplant, experiments or for consideration, exceptions.

Section 188.037 - Experimentation with fetus, or child aborted alive, prohibited, exception.

Section 188.038 - Pregnant women, bias or discrimination against — findings of general assembly — limitations on performing an abortion, when.

Section 188.039 - Seventy-two hour waiting period for abortions required — medical emergency exception, definition — informed consent requirements — department to provide model consent forms — waiting period restrained or enjoined, effect of.

Section 188.043 - Medical malpractice insurance required to perform an abortion.

Section 188.044 - Drug or chemical used to induce abortion, warning of birth defects, disability, or other injury — tail insurance required, amount.

Section 188.047 - Tissue submitted for examination — pathologist to file report, copies furnished — department to reconcile notice of abortion to tissue report — annual report required, contents — rulemaking authority.

Section 188.052 - Physician's report on abortion and post-abortion care, when — department to publish statistics.

Section 188.055 - Forms to be supplied to health facilities and physicians.

Section 188.056 - Abortion prohibited after eight weeks gestational age, exception for medical emergency — violation, penalty — severability clause.

Section 188.057 - Abortion prohibited after fourteen weeks gestational age, exception for medical emergency — violation, penalty — severability clause.

Section 188.058 - Abortion prohibited after eighteen weeks gestational age, exception for medical emergency — violation, penalty — severability clause.

Section 188.060 - Records to be retained for seven years.

Section 188.065 - Revocation of license, when.

Section 188.070 - Breach of confidentiality prohibited.

Section 188.075 - Violation of sections 188.010 to 188.085 a class A misdemeanor — affirmative defense — jurisdiction of attorney general.

Section 188.080 - Abortion performed by other than a physician with clinical privileges at a hospital, a felony.

Section 188.085 - Sections 188.010 to 188.085 not to be deemed exclusive of other regulations or remedies.

Section 188.100 - Definitions.

Section 188.105 - Discrimination by employer prohibited because of failure of employee to participate in abortion — exceptions.

Section 188.110 - Discrimination by colleges, universities and hospitals prohibited — no requirement to pay fees, when.

Section 188.115 - Severability clause.

Section 188.120 - Cause of action for violation of discrimination laws, treble damages, attorney's fees.

Section 188.125 - Alternatives to abortion agency, intent to acknowledge certain right of — state preemption, when — actions to enforce, authorized relief — definitions.

Section 188.130 - No cause of action for wrongful life.

Section 188.160 - Whistleblower protection policy, required when — rulemaking authority.

Section 188.200 - Definitions.

Section 188.205 - Use of public funds prohibited, when.

Section 188.210 - Public employees, activities prohibited, when.

Section 188.215 - Use of public facilities prohibited, when.

Section 188.220 - Taxpayer standing to bring suit, when, where.

Section 188.230 - Construction of law.

Section 188.250 - Causing, aiding, or assisting a minor to obtain an abortion prohibited, civil penalty — impermissible defenses — court injunction authorized, when.

Section 188.325 - Program established, services provided — matching moneys to be sought — moneys not to be used for abortions or abortion services.

Section 188.335 - Program established, purpose — matching moneys to be sought — moneys not to be used for abortions or abortion services.

Section 188.375 - Citation of act — definition — limitation on abortion, when — violation, penalty — method or technique to be utilized — severability clause.