Montgomery, Ala., May 10, 2019 / 18:00 pm
The Alabama Senate has delayed a vote on a bill to outlaw abortion, following a disagreement between Republican and Democratic state senators on Thursday over whether an exception for cases of rape or incest should be included in the bill.
The Human Life Protection Act (HB314) would make attempting or performing an abortion a felony offense. Doctors who perform abortion would be charged with a Class A felony and could face between 10 years and life in prison.
The penalty would apply only to doctors, not to mothers, who, according to the bill's sponsors, would not face criminal penalties for undergoing abortions.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who presides over the Alabama Senate, removed the rape and incest exception amendment after a voice vote Thursday, meaning there is no record of how Senators voted- something the Democratic Senators wanted.
"I know this bill is going to pass. You're going to get your way," Democratic Sen. Vivian Davis Figures protested.