HB 455 DE 151

Session
151
Sponsors
Name D Melissa C. Minor-Brown
Name D Kyle Evans Gay
Name D Laura Viviana Sturgeon
Name D Bryan Townsend
Name D Debra J. Heffernan
Name D Valerie J. Maglio Longhurst
Name D Kendra L. Johnson
Name D Krista Griffith
Name D Andria Leigh Bennett
Name D Paul S. Baumbach
Name D Eric A. Morrison
Name D Stephanie Leigh Hansen
Name D William Charles Paradee III
Name D David P. Sokola
Name D John A. Kowalko Jr.
Name D John Larry Mitchell Jr.
Name D Sherae'a Moore
Name D Sarah McBride
Name D Larry D. Lambert Jr.
Name D Edward S. Osienski
Name D Marie Pinkney

Title

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 24, 10, 11, AND 18 RELATING TO THE WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

Summary

Section 1 and 2. These sections defines “reproductive health services” for the Board of Medical Practice, the Board of Nursing, and Regulatory Council for Physician Assistants, and makes clear that physicians, physician assistants and nurses who perform, recommend, or provide reproductive health services, if such services are lawful in this State, do not engage in unprofessional conduct and cannot be disciplined for such services even if such services are illegal or considered to be unprofessional conduct or the unauthorized practice of medicine or nursing in another state. This section also authorizes the following to terminate pregnancy before viability: (1) A physician assistant with a collaborative agreement with an appropriately training physician; and (2) A certified nurse midwife or certified nurse practitioner who demonstrates knowledge and competency, including successful completion of a training or certification approved by the Board of Nursing. Section 3. This section prohibits a health care provider from disclosing communications and records concerning reproductive health services, but does provide exceptions including if such records are requested for the purposes of investigating a complaint against a health care provider and the records are relevant to such complaint or to if requested to investigate a claim of abuse and such records are relevant to such investigation. This section also provides protections and limitations against civil actions from another state relating to the termination of pregnancy. Such protections and limitations include the issuance of a summons for a criminal case or investigation, and the issuance of a subpoena for information or testimony relating to the termination of pregnancy. This section also creates a cause of action for persons against whom a judgment was entered in another state based upon allegedly providing, receiving, or helping another person to provide or receive reproductive health services that are legal in Delaware. This section allows the person to recover damages from any party that brought the original action that resulted in the judgment or tried to enforce it. The damages available are just damages resulting from the original action as well as costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney’s fees spent bringing the action under this section as permitted by the court. The cause of action is unavailable if no part of the acts that formed the basis for liability occurred in Delaware. It is also unavailable if the judgment entered in the other state is based on a claim similar to one that exists under Delaware law and: (1) is a claim brought by a or the patient’s legal representative for damages the patient suffered or from another individual’s loss of consortium with the patient; or (2) is a contract based claim brought or enforced by a someone with a contractual relationship with the person who is subject to the judgment. Section 4. This section limits non-fugitive extradition of someone for committing an act that results in a criminal charge for the termination of pregnancy in another state. Pursuant to this bill, a person may only be extradited if the acts for which extradition is sought are punishable under Delaware law if their consequences, as claimed by the other state, had taken effect in this state. Section 5. This section prohibits an insurer from increasing the premium or taking any adverse action against a health care professional or health care organization for performing or providing reproductive health care services that are lawful in this State and covers any medical professional who prescribes medication for the termination of human pregnancy to an out-of-state patient by means of telehealth.

Bill Text

Bill Activity

  • Signed Signed by Governor

  • Passed Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO

  • Lifted From Table in Senate

  • Laid On Table in Senate

  • Reported Out of Committee (Legislative Oversight & Sunset) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable

  • Re-Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate

  • Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate

  • Passed Passed By House. Votes: 24 YES 13 NO 4 ABSENT

  • Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 Favorable

  • Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

Hearings on this Bill

  • Senate Legislative Oversight & Sunset
  • House Health & Human Development

Votes