These bills deal directly with abortion procedures and make provisions to inform women of the potential dangers involved with a terminated pregnancy. God's gift of life should be the most cherished and beloved by all humans, and I vow to fight for the birthright of our children. As a legislator, it is my belief that we must protect the rights of our most vulnerable individuals. This legislation has begun a necessary journey for humanity as it will now move on to the Senate for possible amendments. Providing women with a complete understanding of their pregnancy and what will specifically happen with their unborn child, when considering an abortion, promotes a more informed decision. For women to understand the future implications of their decision is the basis for HB 1210. The legislation states that the woman must be informed of the risks associated with the terminated pregnancy including information regarding the baby, any available assistance and information on existing laws concerning abortions. In addition to establishing more rules and provisions, the physician is required to ask the woman if she wants to view fetal ultrasound imaging. Seeking to protect the health of the mother and her unborn baby, the legislation allows the Indiana Check-up Plan Trust Fund to provide payment for breast and cervical cancer screening services. These services will be provided through the office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services. The second bill I want to address is HB 1474. The purpose of this legislation is to monitor all terminated pregnancies performed on a woman less than fourteen years of age and to assure the procedure is done under the authorized provisions of the law. The documentation required to be administered by the medical facilities is to aid in the prevention of child abuse and to notify the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and Department of Child Services (DCS). This legislation is a vital step in allowing the ISDH and DCS access to information regarding terminated pregnancies and to help the teenagers involved. Giving a voice to mothers and their unborn child is at the heart of this legislation. There are tremendous societal pressures associated with an underage pregnancy, and making the most informed decision when bringing a life into this world is fundamental to the livelihood of the mother and her child. Treasuring human life and viewing life as God's creation, specifically an unborn life, will further protect future generations of Indiana. Through these provisions in the legislation before the General Assembly, I hope to see more mothers realize the beautiful sanctity of life. State Representative Randy Frye, District 67 |
