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Wisconsin Right to Life is proud to have successfully brought about 32 Right-to-life laws passed since our founding in 1968. Our Right-to-life Legislative Victories are Considered not only the best in the state, but also some of the best in the country!

2018:  Wisconsin Act 191 Right-to-Life Laws Passed – No Taxpayer Dollars Pay for Elective Abortion under State Employees’ Health Plans

Requires that the Group Insurance Board, responsible for contracting with insurance providers for state employee health care plans, does not provide any health care plans that cover elective abortion. State employee health care plans are paid for with taxpayer funds.

In 1995, then-Attorney General Jim Doyle wrote an opinion erroneously stating that Wisconsin’s 1978 law prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion did not apply to abortion coverage in state employees’ health plans. This allowed for elective abortions to be covered with taxpayer funds for 23 years. Signed by Governor Walker on April 3rd, 2018, Wisconsin Act 191 was a major rollback of taxpayer funding for abortion.

2016:  Wisconsin Act 152 – Stops Family Planning Providers from Overbilling Medicaid

Requires that family planning providers like Planned Parenthood do not bill Medicaid a special inflated rate that creates a waste of taxpayer dollars. Signed by Governor Walker on February 18th, 2016, 2015 Act 152 will save the state of Wisconsin approximately $4.5 million a year.

2016:  Wisconsin Act 151 – Redirecting Title X Taxpayer Dollars

Requires the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to directly apply to the federal Title X grant program, and direct those funds to organizations that do not provide abortions. Signed by Governor Walker on February 18th, 2016, 2015 Act 151 will redirect approximately $3.5 million taxpayer dollars away from organizations like Planned Parenthood.

2015:  Wisconsin Act 117 – Rewrite of Unconstitutional Campaign Finance Law​

After working so hard in court to fight for First Amendment principles that were previously unprotected, Wisconsin Right to Life was overjoyed when 2015 Act 117 was signed into law on Dec. 16, 2015 by Governor Walker to re-write Wisconsin’s long-unconstitutional campaign finance law. Now, regardless of one’s political persuasion, all can participate in public debate and provide information relevant to the issues they care about without confusion surrounding the law, or unconstitutional burdens on one’s right to free speech.

2015:  Wisconsin Act 56 – The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Under the leadership of authors Senator Mary Lazich and Representatives Jesse Kremer, Joe Sanfelippo, and Joan Ballweg, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was passed relatively quickly through both houses of the legislature. On July 20th, 2015, Governor Scott Walker signed the bill into law, protecting unborn babies capable of feeling pain (20 weeks post-fertilization age) from abortion. Wisconsin is now the twelfth state which effectively protects pain-capable unborn children. Based on state abortion statistics, it is estimated that the newly enacted law will protect up to 89 Wisconsin babies a year from the pain of abortion.

2013:  Wisconsin Act 37 – Sonya’s Law

Sonya’s Law passed through both chambers of the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker on July 5, 2013.  The law requires that a woman seeking an abortion have an ultrasound 24 hours prior to the abortion being performed. She will be able to view her unborn child and see her baby’s heartbeat on ultrasound. A verbal description of what she sees on the screen will be given to her. She has the ability to turn away from the screen if she chooses. She also can choose the type of ultrasound after all options are explained to her.  Another provision of Act 37 (a requirement that abortionists have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic) is currently not in force due to ongoing litigation by opponents.  Wisconsin Right to Life is extremely grateful to Sonya who came forward to tell her story. Sonya, the mother of two young children, considered abortion until she saw a bus sign advertising free ultrasounds. After seeing her baby’s heartbeat on ultrasound, Sonya fell in love with her baby and knew she had to give birth. Sonya is a true hero for women like her and the babies that will be saved. Wisconsin Right to Life was the lead organization promoting Sonya’s Law. Another Right-to-Life Laws Passed.

2012:  Wisconsin Act 218 – Opt-Out of Abortion Subsidies in ObamaCare

As reported time and again, the Obamacare law contains provisions which would lead to federal funding of abortions and rationing of health care. The only recourse the federal law gives to the states is a provision allowing a state to opt-out of abortion coverage in the health insurance exchanges set up by the law. Wisconsin has done that by enacting this law. The new law gives Wisconsin relief from federal taxpayer dollars going for abortions. Wisconsin Right to Life was the lead organization in promoting this measure.

2012:  The Coercive and Web Cam Abortion Prevention Act

Wisconsin Act 217 — For far too long, numbers of women have reported that they were coerced into having abortions. The new Right-to-Life Laws Passed ensures that an assessment will be made to determine if a woman’s consent to an abortion is voluntary. The bill requires that the abortionist speak to the woman in private to determine if she is being coerced. If she is a potential or actual victim of domestic abuse, the abortionist must give her information on where she can receive help. In addition, women will be further protected by requiring a physical exam and in- person administration of dangerous chemical abortion-inducing drugs like RU 486. This requirement would prohibit webcam abortions which are occurring in Iowa and Minnesota from being introduced into local communities in Wisconsin. Over 2,200 adverse incidents were reported by the FDA since 2000 from use of abortion-inducing drugs, including the deaths of 14 women. RU 486 abortions, administered after a woman has been diagnosed as being pregnant, are different from the morning after pill. Finally, Wisconsin Act 217 repeals penalties to women who obtain abortions. This repeal removes a conflict in the statutes and ensures that once abortions become illegal again in Wisconsin, a woman who obtains an abortion cannot be fined or imprisoned. Wisconsin Right to Life was the lead organization promoting this measure.

2011:  Wisconsin Act 32 – Provision in Biennial State Budget

Prevents the University of Wisconsin from participating in any abortion plan and from paying medical students to learn to perform abortions.

Steers $1 million Title V taxpayer dollars away from Planned Parenthood.

2005:  Wisconsin Act 56 – Cord Blood Donation

Section 146.343 created a mechanism for the donation of umbilical cord blood by informing pregnant women of the option of donating the umbilical cord blood of their newborn babies to accredited cord blood banks. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. Dozens of diseases and conditions have already been successfully treated with the use of cord blood stem cells. This ethical use of stem cells does not involve the destruction of human life in any manner.

2003:  Born Alive Infant Protection Act

By defining “live birth” to include a live birth after an abortion, Wisconsin established a bright line between abortion and infanticide. Wisconsin laws and regulations are required to be interpreted so that every baby born alive after an abortion has the same legal status and legal rights as a baby born alive after a normal delivery resulting from a “natural or induced labor or a cesarean section.” This law was enacted in response to numerous instances where babies who survived abortions were tragically left to die with no attempts made to assess their medical condition or to even provide basic comfort care. (See s. 990.001 (17) and s. 990.01 (19j) for the definitions and the rule of construction.)

2002:  Second Chance Homes

Section 46.997 created Second Chance Homes for homeless teenage mothers and expectant mothers who have no support systems within their own families or in the community. These homes provide the teenagers and their babies with a stable and nurturing home environment where they will learn the skills they need to be good and responsible parents and members of society. The Second Chance Home approach provides a real alternative to abortion for many young women in Wisconsin.

2001:  Safe Haven for Newborns Act

Section 48.195 created a mechanism for parents to relinquish their newborn babies without fear of legal liability. Parents can anonymously and confidentially leave babies 72 hours old or younger in the care of hospitals, police officers or emergency medical technicians. This law protects the lives of newborn infants who are at risk of being killed or left to die by desperate parents.

1999:  Abortion Coverage Rider Requirement

Section 40.98 created a health care coverage plan as an option for private employers. The health care plan does not provide coverage for a non-therapeutic abortion, which is an abortion that is not directly and medically necessary to prevent the death of the woman. Any individual wanting coverage for a non-therapeutic abortion can only obtain this coverage by purchasing an abortion rider that can only be paid for by the individual. Payments for claims for non-therapeutic abortions can only be from the premiums collected for the abortion riders. This mechanism protects all other individuals covered by the health care plan from being forced to pay for non-therapeutic abortions with the premiums they pay for the main plan.

1998:  Adoption Laws in Wisconsin

The adoption laws in Wisconsin were comprehensively revised to improve the adoption process in our state and to expand funding for adoption assistance for children at risk of developmental disabilities. These revisions also included an educational component to create greater awareness and acceptance of adoption as an alternative to abortion.

1998:  Fetal Homicide and Bodily Injury Act

Criminal homicide and bodily injury statutes were created to establish an unborn child as a second victim of major homicide and bodily injury crimes, with the same penalties that exist for born persons. These crimes cover causing harm or death to an unborn child in a non-abortion context where the unborn child, the child’s mother, or both, are victims of violence perpetrated by another person.

1998:  Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

Section 940.16, which bans partial-birth abortion in Wisconsin, is currently unenforceable because the U.S. Supreme Court’s Stenberg v. Carhart decision striking down Nebraska’s ban on partial-birth abortion also struck down similar state bans on partial-birth abortion in 2000. After that decision, a federal ban on partial-birth abortion was enacted in 2003. The federal ban was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2007 Gonzales v. Carhart decision. The federal partial-birth abortion ban applies throughout the country, so partial-birth abortions are illegal in all states, including Wisconsin, under federal law. Wisconsin’s pro-life legislators are in the process of amending s. 940.16 to have it mirror the language of the federal ban on partial-birth abortion, thus making this gruesome abortion procedure illegal under both federal and
state law.

1998:  Unborn Children in Need of Protection or Services

Unborn children, at any stage of pregnancy, who are at risk of serious physical harm due to the severe and habitual use of alcohol or drugs by their expectant mothers were added to the Children’s Code as an unborn child in need of protection or services. This new “Cocaine Mom” law gave the courts authority to require the expectant mother to participate in alcohol and drug abuse services even if she has to be taken into physical custody in order to protect her unborn child.

1997:  Prohibition on Funding for Abortion-Related Activities

Section 20.9275 prohibits public funding of pregnancy programs that engage in abortion-related activities and prohibits pregnancy programs that receive public funds from using the funds for abortion-related activities. The abortion-related activities are: (1) provides abortion services; (2) promotes, encourages or counsels in favor of abortion services; and (3) makes abortion referrals either directly or through an intermediary in any instance other than when an abortion is directly and medically necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman.

1996:  Woman’s Right to Know Act

Section 253.10 is a detailed informed consent law requiring the voluntary and informed consent of a woman for an abortion. Unless a medical emergency exists, the physician is required to provide specific information to a woman before an abortion can be performed followed by a reflection period (usually 24 hours) to allow the woman the opportunity to consider whether or not she will consent to an abortion. This law also requires that the woman be given printed materials prepared by the state, including a fetal development booklet and a statewide directory of services which includes pro-life pregnancy help centers.

1996:  Tax Exemption for Adoption Expenses

Under s. 71.05 (6) (b) 22, adoptive parents can deduct up to $5,000 of adoption fees, court costs and legal fees related to the adoption of a child. This tax benefit encourages additional adoptions where the financial impacts are a concern.

1992:  Parental Consent Act

Under s. 48.375, Right-to-Life Laws Passed that unless a medical emergency exists, a physician cannot perform an abortion on a minor (someone under 18 years old) unless the minor and one of her parents consents to the abortion or the minor uses a constitutionally required judicial bypass procedure to obtain judicial consent.

Note: There are additional provisions in the parental consent law that can be used to undermine the parental consent requirement. For example, the minor can also get an abortion if an adult family member or a foster parent consents to the abortion. These individuals do not have the legal right to consent to medical treatment for the minor in any other circumstance.

1991:  Restrictions on Use of Genetic Test Results

Section 631.89 prohibits an insurer from discriminating against individuals based on genetic test results. Specifically, the insurer cannot (1) require an individual to obtain a genetic test or to reveal the results of any genetic test, (2) condition the provision of insurance coverage or health care benefits on genetic testing, or (3) base the cost of insurance coverage or the provision of health care benefits on genetic testing. In 1997, this law was amended to prevent the insurer from getting this information from the individual’s health care provider.

1986:  Abortion Reporting Requirement

Section 69.186 requires annual reports from hospitals, clinics, and other facilities where abortions are performed for each “induced abortion” performed at these facilities. The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services collects a report of specific information for each woman who obtains an abortion in this state and publishes an annual demographic summary of this information, protecting the identity of the women and the facilities. A copy of these reports, from 1998 to present, can be obtained at http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/stats/ITOP.htm.

1985:  Physician Only Requirement

Under s. 940.15 (5), an abortion can only be performed by a physician. Also, Wisconsin’s unenforceable ban on abortion, s. 940.04, can still be used by Wisconsin to prohibit abortions by non-physicians.

Note: Section 940.15 purportedly prohibits the performance of an abortion after an unborn child reaches viability unless the abortion is necessary to preserve the life or “health” of the woman. In reality, this law does not prohibit post-viability abortions because “health” related abortions may include virtually any reason a woman may have for seeking an abortion, including psychological and emotional factors.

1985:  Immunity for Pregnant Woman Who Has an Abortion

Section 940.13 provides that no “fine or imprisonment may be imposed or enforced against and no prosecution may be brought against a woman who obtains an abortion …” As a general rule, the woman is considered to be another victim of abortion because many times she is usually being pressured, coerced, or forced into having an abortion.

1981:  Maternity Coverage for Dependent Children

Under s. 632.78 (7), every group health benefit plan which provides maternity coverage shall provide maternity coverage for all persons covered under the policy. This includes female dependents who become pregnant while they are covered under the plan. These young female dependents will be less likely to have an abortion if there is insurance coverage to cover the costs of maternity care, childbirth and delivery.

1981:  Determination of Death

Section 146.71 provides that an “individual who has sustained either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead.” The key component of this provision is the determination of brain death. Individuals who are brain dead are dead. On the other hand, individuals who suffer severe injuries to their brains, but still have brain wave activity and a functioning brain stem (which controls heart rate, breathing, and other spontaneous functions) are brain damaged and still very much alive.

1978:  Public Funding of Abortion Prohibited

Section 20.927 prohibits state or local funds, and federal funds passing through the state treasury, to be authorized for or paid to a physician or surgeon or a hospital, clinic or other medical facility for the performance of most abortions. The prohibition does not apply to an abortion which is directly and medically necessary to save the life of the woman; in the case of a reported sexual assault or incest; or where, due to a medical condition existing prior to the abortion, the abortion is directly and medically necessary to prevent grave, long-lasting physical health damage to the woman.

1974:  Conscience Protections

Wisconsin has conscience protections for hospitals, hospital employees, physicians, nurses and students, protecting them from being forced to participate in an abortion. Section 253.09 provides various legal protections to enforce these conscience rights.

1849:  Ban on Assisting Suicide

Wisconsin’s ban on assisted suicide has been on the books since Wisconsin became a state. Section 940.12 of this Right-to-Life Laws Passed provides that “Whoever with intent that another take his or her own life assists such person to commit suicide” is guilty of a crime.

1849:  Ban on Abortion

Wisconsin’s ban on abortion throughout pregnancy, unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother, has been on the books since Wisconsin became a state. Section 940.04 cannot be enforced because the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision struck down all state bans on abortion in 1973. Fortunately, when Roe v. Wade is reversed, s. 940.04 will be enforceable again.

Right-to-Life Laws Passed
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