SENATE FILE 287

BY  SORENSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the determination of when life begins and acknowledging the rights, privileges, and immunities of an unborn child.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  598C.1  Unborn child —— findings —— rights, privileges, and immunities —— no cause of action.
   1.  The general assembly of this state finds all of the following:
   a.  The life of each human being begins at conception.
   b.  An unborn child has protectable interests in life, health, and well-being.
   c.  The biological parent of an unborn child has protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of the unborn child.
   2.  The laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of an unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state.
   3.  As used in this section,“unborn child” means the offspring of a human being from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development.
   4.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to create a cause of action against a woman for indirectly harming the woman’s unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the determination of when the life of a human being begins and the rights, privileges, and immunities ascribed to an unborn child and the interests of the unborn child’s biological parents.
   The bill provides findings including that the life of each human being begins at conception; an unborn child has protectable interests in life, health, and well-being; and the biological parent of an unborn child has protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of the unborn child.
   The bill provides that the laws of the state of Iowa are to be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of an unborn child all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of Iowa.
   Under the bill, “unborn child” means the offspring of a human being from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development.
   The bill provides that the provisions of the bill are not to be interpreted to create a cause of action against a woman for indirectly harming the woman’s unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care.