The Missouri Senate Committee for Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families voted do pass HB 1541, sponsored by Rep. Tim Jones (R-Eureka), which provided conscience protection for health care workers who choose not to participate in providing abortion, abortion-inducing drugs and other medical procedures. (The provisions of HB 1541 have also been added to HCS SB 749.)
The bill would require those health care workers who choose not to participate in the specified procedures to give reasonable notice under the circumstances of their intent not to participate.
The bill will now move to the Senate floor for debate, after which it will go back to the House for further consideration. The House passed an earlier version of the bill, which was amended in the Senate Committee to address concerns raised during the committee hearing on the bill.
I am trying to contact our state representative, Joe Fallert and MOSenator Kevin Engler to urge them to strongly support hese bills providing a conscience clause for doctors and health care workers in reference to providilng abortion and contraceptives: HB 1541 & HSC SB 749.
Thanks, Paulette. Just to let you know, the Missouri House third read and passed HCS SB 749 today. We’ll have more information on that later.