2015 House Bill 4787 / 2016 Public Act 149

Authorize enhanced penalties for abortion coercion

Introduced in the House

July 14, 2015

Introduced by Rep. Amanda Price (R-89)

To authorize enhanced penalties for threatening or committing a “stalking” or assaultive crime with the intent to coerce a pregnant female to have an abortion, or taking other coercive actions with that goal. The bill authorizes additional fines of $5,000 to $10,000 on top of penalties imposed for the underlying crimes.

Referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice

Sept. 29, 2015

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

March 24, 2016

Substitute offered by Rep. Amanda Price (R-89)

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D-95)

To expand the scope of the proposed sanctions to coercion related to any "reproductive health decision," not just abortion.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vanessa Guerra (D-95)

To expand the scope of the proposed sanctions to coercion related to coercing a woman to not have an abortion, not just coercing a woman to have one.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-92)

To remove proposed statutory definition of "unborn child" that reads, "a live human being in utero regardless of his or her gestational stage of development".

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Henry Yanez (D-25)

To exempt a doctor's recommendation that a woman should get an abortion for health reasons.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 65 to 43 (details)

Received in the Senate

April 12, 2016

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary

May 5, 2016

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

May 25, 2016

Amendment offered by Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-23)

To clarify that the bill does not apply to a doctor who recommends an abortion for health-of-the-mother reasons.

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Steve Bieda (D-9)

To reduce the proposed penalties to $500.

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-18)

To expand the bill to include using "knowledge of the pregnancy to interfere with the pregnant female's decisions about her future health care related to the pregnancy".

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Passed in the Senate 26 to 11 (details)

To authorize enhanced penalties for threatening or committing a “stalking” or assaultive crime with the intent to coerce a pregnant female to have an abortion, or taking other coercive actions with that goal. The bill authorizes additional fines of $5,000 to $10,000 on top of penalties imposed for the underlying crimes.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 8, 2016