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Eliminating sex discrimination through research, education and legal activities
ABORTION (Patmon, B., Conditt, M.) To expand the crime of abortion trafficking and to increase the penalty. (CONTINUED; 1st Hearing-Sponsor)
The measure would bring penalties for the selling of abortion remains in line with those for selling donated organs, Rep. Margaret Conditt (R-Liberty Twp.) said.
The penalty is changed from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony under the legislation.
A provision also clarifies that the product of human conception that is aborted cannot be concealed as compensation or reimbursement for the processing, preservation, quality control, storage or transportation.
“Having spoken with the representatives of the organ-donation field, there is nothing in this bill would be a problem with legitimate organ donations,” Rep. Conditt said. “Even the donation of fetal remains from a miscarriage or a stillborn birth is unaffected by this bill language, since abortion is defined in the ORC as ‘the purposeful termination of human pregnancy,’ and miscarriages and stillborn births are definitely not purposeful.”
Joint sponsor Rep. Bill Patmon (D-Cleveland) told the committee that his is unaware of so-called abortion trafficking occurring in Ohio and that the bill is meant to be preventative.
Rep. Antonio said she doesn’t understand the need for the legislation if there is currently not a problem with individuals selling aborted remains in Ohio.
“What problem we are solving here today? How will we be better off tomorrow with this legislation than we are today?” She asked.
Rep. Patmon reiterated that the bill is meant to be preemptive.