On Tuesday, the House Committee on Health and Mental Health heard House Bill 195, sponsored by Rep. Brian Seitz (R-Branson), and House Bill 1119, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones (R-Eureka), which would establish the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.”
The bills would ensure that a child born alive during or after an abortion (or attempted abortion) is treated as any other live-born child would be, requiring health care providers to exercise the same degree of care and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as they would render to any other child born alive. Consequently, performing or attempting to perform an act that kills a child born alive would be considered as first-degree murder.
The MCC testified in support of HB 195 and HB 1119. If the bills are voted out of committee, they will go to the House floor for debate.