H. B. 4315
(By Delegate Trump)
[Introduced February 1, 2006; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the
Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §33-42-9, relating to
ensuring that medical workers have the right to refuse to
participate in any abortion-related activity without fear of
disciplinary action or dismissal; prescribing criminal
penalties for violations of the section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §33-42-9, to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 42. WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE ACT.
§33-42-9. Rights of medical workers in abortions.
A medical worker in any facility in which abortions are performed has an absolute right to refuse to be involved in any
abortion related activity and may not be disciplined or discharged
for exercising this right. Any person who violates the
requirements of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one thousand
dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Nothing contained in
this section may be construed or interpreted to endorse, allow,
permit or approve of any abortion.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to ensure that medical
workers have the right to refuse to participate in any
abortion-related activity without fear of disciplinary action or
dismissal. The bill also prescribes a criminal fine for violations
of the section.
§33-42-9 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring
have been omitted.