SHIELD Act

Bill: 117-hr-8838
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
Introduced: 2022-09-15 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Abortion
Civil actions and liability
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Health personnel
Law enforcement administration and funding
Right of privacy
Sex and reproductive health
State and local government operations
Women's health
Women's rights

Summary:
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: 

Safeguard Healthcare Industry Employees from Litigation and Distress Act or the SHIELD Act

 
This bill establishes a framework to limit interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services at the state level. 
 
For the purposes of this summary, interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services includes acts to prevent, restrict, impede, or retaliate against
 
 
a health care provider who provides reproductive health care services,
 
any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, 
 
any person who seeks to access such services, or 
 
any person or entity who helps another person to access such services.
 
 
First, the bill reduces the allocation of funds under certain law enforcement grant programs for a state that has in effect a law authorizing state or local officers or employees to interfere with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services.
 
Second, the bill prohibits interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health care services
 
 
by state or local officers or employees acting under color of law in any manner that would have a discriminatory effect on a woman, and 
 
by persons who are not state or local officers or employees and are attempting to implement or enforce a state law in circumstances affecting interstate commerce. 
 
 
The bill authorizes civil remedies for a violation, including damages and injunctive relief. Additionally, it authorizes criminal penalties for a violation involving the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or the infliction of bodily injury.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
action_date: 2022-09-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8105-8106)
action_date: 2022-09-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7869)
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-09-15
text: Introduced in House