Rep. Addia Wuchner
This bill prohibits an abortion on a pregnant woman that will result in the dismemberment, bodily crushing, or human vivisection of the unborn child when the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 11 weeks or greater, except in the case of a medical emergency. Animal cruelty laws had protected animals more than our abortion laws protected or cared for an unborn human.
HB 454 was one of the more significant sanctity of life bills passed in America at this time. (Only 8 other states have passed such a law.) This bill bans the dismemberment of an unborn child in utero, which is a very common practice in the abortion industry. Supporters point out that if an individual were to rip the limbs off a live animal they would be charged with animal cruelty, yet this procedure is a common method of abortion. HB 454 was introduced late in the Session (Feb. 22), but cleared the House 71-11 on March 12. It passed the Senate with an amendment on March 22 with a vote of 35-1 and the House concurred 75-13 on March 27.