An Act To Educate Women on the Medical Risks Associated with Abortion
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0924
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: ESPLING, MASON, BURNS, CEBRA, CLARK, CRAFTS, CUSHING, DUNPHY, FITZPATRICK, FOSTER, GIFFORD, GUERIN, HAMPER, HARMON, JOHNSON, MAKER, MORISSETTE, O'CONNOR, OLSEN, RIOUX, SANDERSON, SIROCKI, TIMBERLAKE, VOLK, WILLETTE, PLOWMAN, SNOWE-MELLO
Amends: 22 MRSA §1599-A

Legislative Document 
No. 924 
H.P. 684 
House of Representatives, March 8, 2011 
An Act To Educate Women on the Medical Risks Associated with 
Abortion 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative ESPLING of New Gloucester. 
Cosponsored by Senator MASON of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, CEBRA of Naples, CLARK of Easton, CRAFTS of 
Lisbon, CUSHING of Hampden, DUNPHY of Embden, FITZPATRICK of Houlton, FOSTER 
of Augusta, GIFFORD of Lincoln, GUERIN of Glenburn, HAMPER of Oxford, HARMON of 
Palermo, JOHNSON of Eddington, MAKER of Calais, McCLELLAN of Raymond, 
MORISSETTE of Winslow, O'CONNOR of Berwick, OLSEN of Phippsburg, RIOUX of 
Winterport, SANDERSON of Chelsea, SIROCKI of Scarborough, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, 
VOLK of Scarborough, WILLETTE of Mapleton, Senators: PLOWMAN of Penobscot, 
SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 61, §4, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Information 24 hours in advance; informed consent.  To ensure that the 
consent for an abortion is truly informed consent, at least 24 hours before the abortion the 
attending physician shall provide to the woman the following information, both orally 
and in writing, and the brochure under subsection 4: 
A.  The name of the physician who is to perform the abortion; 
B.  A description of the procedure to be used; 
C.  The risks of the abortion procedure and the risks of childbirth; 
D.  Scientifically accurate information about the fetus; 
E.  The availability of medical benefits; and 
F.  The father's liability for support. 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §1599-A, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4.  Brochure.  The department shall publish and periodically update as necessary a 
brochure that explains the risks of and alternatives to abortion and provides scientifically 
accurate information concerning the development of a fetus.  The brochure must also 
include information concerning public and private agencies that will provide a woman 
with economic and other assistance to carry the fetus to term.  The department shall send 
copies of the brochure to each physician licensed and practicing in this State and shall 
make the brochure available online. 
SUMMARY 
The bill requires that in order to ensure that informed consent is obtained from a 
woman seeking an abortion, specific information must be provided both orally and in 
writing to a woman seeking an abortion at least 24 hours before the abortion is 
performed.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall develop a brochure that 
contains required information and provide copies to physicians and make the brochure 
available online.