LifeLink: Pro-Life Work in Austin, TX

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March 2005

In addition to continuing our work to educate the public on all the right to life issues, Texas Right to Life is working diligently to restore the sanctity of innocent human life in our State Capitol. With a quickly expanding legislative team, Texas Right to Life has already played a role in passing the Parental Notification law, the Woman’s Right to Know law, the Prenatal Protection law, a rider clause to defund the abortion industry, and other laws protecting patients from involuntary euthanasia.

During this legislative session, Texas Right to Life will focus on the following legislation:

Human Cloning Prohibition Act

The Human Cloning Prohibition Act will prohibit the creation of cloned humans in Texas, whether the cloned humans are intended for research or for reproductive purposes. A civil penalty would be imposed for those who participate in human cloning. The ban does not ban any type of stem cell research, nor does it ban the cloning of DNA, molecules, organ and tissue cells.

Child Predator Prevention Act

The Child Predator Prevention Act will ensure that an adult who accompanies a minor to undergo an abortion is actually her parent or legal guardian. This should help to prevent coerced abortions, since sexual predators and molesters will not be able to coerce girls into abortions to cover their crimes. This bill will hold abortionists liable for violating Texas’ current Parental Notification law.

Woman’s Health Protection Act

The Woman’s Health Protection Act will require that all abortion statistics are accurately reported to the Department of State Health Services and ensure that abortion-related complications are not reported as pregnancy-related complications. Some of these statistics are merely suggested by the department’s Abortion Clinic Regulations; however, these statistics are not required by law and therefore must be codified. This bill should protect women by statistically documenting how and when abortion is unsafe for women. The effectiveness of Texas’ current Parental Notification law will also be accurately assessed by requiring the reporting of judicial bypass hearings for minors seeking to circumvent parental involvement in their abortion decision.

Conscience Clause

The Conscience Clause will protect all health care workers, health care facilities, and health insurers who conscientiously object to the provision of or participation in health care services contrary to their creed. The bill will ensure that a health care service cannot be the basis for civil, criminal, or administrative liability, discrimination, or exclusion from a grant, contract or program. This measure will also specify that a health care provider may bring a civil action, including a petition for injunctive relief, if he or she was penalized or suffered discrimination for asserting a conscientious objection.

For information on how you can help Texas Right to Life to promote the Culture of Life in Austin, please contact us at (713) 782-LIFE.