Fetal Organ Trafficking Ban
P.A. 386 & 387 of 2016 S.B 564 & 565 – Senator Phil Pavlov H.B. 5086 & 5087 – Rep. John Bizon |
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Current Status The Fetal Organ Trafficking Ban was signed into law on December 28, 2016 by Lt. Governor Brian Calley and is now P.A. 386 & 387 of 2016.Description S.B. 564 (H.B. 5086) prohibits the exchange of any form of compensation for fetal tissue or organs. S.B. 565 (H.B. 5087) describes the legal penalties for engaging in the trade of fetal tissue or organs for monetary or other forms of remuneration. Background Fetal tissue research has been conducted for years. Since at least the 1920s, scientists have used fetal tissue for experiments, vaccines and therapies. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s when elective abortions became legal that the ethics of fetal tissue experimentation became hotly debated. Prior to the legalization of elective abortions, federal dollars were used to support fetal tissue research projects. In the 1980s, the Reagan Administration placed a temporary ban on federal funding. When Bill Clinton took office, he lifted the moratorium on federal funding for fetal tissue research. Last year alone, the National Institutes of Health spent $76 million of projects involving fetal tissue. The funds from the federal government for research projects will not be affected by these bills, but the exchange of money to abortion providers will halt. History On April 27, 2016 the full Senate voted to pass the Fetal Organ Trafficking Ban with a vote of 26-10. It was referred to the House Health Policy Committee where it awaits a hearing. The Senate Oversight Committee voted on February 11, 2016 with a 4-1 vote along party lines to move the bills to the Senate floor. S.B. 564 & 565 were introduced on October 15, 2015 and were referred to the new Senate Oversight Committee. H.B. 5086 & 5087 are identical versions of the Senate bills and were introduced on December 1, 2015 and referred to the House Criminal Justice Committee. |