2005 House Bill 4446 / 2006 Public Act 77

Require ultrasound be shown before abortion

Introduced in the House

March 3, 2005

Introduced by Rep. David Robertson (R-51)

To prohibit performing an abortion unless the physician has first performed an ultrasound, provided the patient with an opportunity to view the active ultrasound image of the fetus, and provided the patient with a physical picture of the ultrasound image of the fetus.

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy

May 3, 2005

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 11, 2005

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. David Robertson (R-51)

To not specify that the requirements of the bill must be met 24 hours before the abortion. This relates to the interaction of the bill with the state informed consent law, which requires a 24 hour "waiting period" for an abortion after the woman receives "medically accurate information" about the procedure, but allows the information to be mailed, faxed or viewed on the Internet.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Roger Kahn (R-94)

To require the "medically accurate information" about abortions posted on the informed consent web site to include a list of health care providers, facilities, and clinics that do free ultrasounds, organized geographically and containing contact and location information.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Stephen Adamini (D-109)

To eliminate the requirement to perform an ultrasound, and revise the timing of when an ultrasound must be shown to the woman if one is performed.

The amendment failed 36 to 69 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Michael Murphy (D-68)

To require the "medically accurate information" about abortions given to a woman as part of the state "informed consent" law to include information on contraceptives, abstinence, and natural family planning methods.

The amendment failed 40 to 66 (details)

May 24, 2005

Passed in the House 69 to 37 (details)

Received in the Senate

May 25, 2005

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy

Dec. 1, 2005

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

Dec. 7, 2005

Amendment offered

To eliminate the bill’s previous mandates, and instead simply require that if prior to or during the performance of an abortion a patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, the physician must provide the patient with the opportunity to view, or not to view, an active ultrasound image of the fetus, and a physical picture of the image, prior to the performance of the abortion.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To require that if prior to or during the performance of an abortion a patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, the physician must provide the patient with the opportunity to view, or not to view, an active ultrasound image and a hard-copy image of the fetus prior to the performance of the abortion.

Received in the House

Dec. 7, 2005

March 8, 2006

Amendment offered by Rep. David Robertson (R-51)

To clarify language in a provision contained in the bill in a way that does not change the substance of the provision.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 84 to 21 (details)

To require that if prior to or during the performance of an abortion a patient undergoes an ultrasound examination, the physician must provide the patient with the opportunity to view, or not to view, an active ultrasound image and a hard-copy image of the fetus prior to the performance of the abortion.

Received in the Senate

March 14, 2006

March 15, 2006

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

March 23, 2006