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          Session of 1998
                    SENATE BILL No. 539           By Senators Emert, Barone, Corbin, Downey and Vidricksen           1-28             9             AN ACT concerning abortion; amending K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 65-6703 and
10             repealing the existing section.
11            
12       Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
13           Section 1. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 65-6703 is hereby amended to read as
14       follows: 65-6703. (a) The legislature of the state of Kansas hereby recog-
15       nizes a woman's right to privacy which is protected from unwarranted,
16       unauthorized and unjustifiable action from the government. The legisla-
17       ture hereby recognizes that such right, although fundamental, is not an
18       absolute, unqualified right. The legislature hereby finds that regulation in
19       areas protected by the right of privacy is justifiable in appropriate cir-
20       cumstances. The legislature hereby finds that the state has an interest in:
21       (1) Safeguarding the health of a pregnant woman; (2) maintaining medical
22       standards; and (3) protecting potential life.
23           (b) No person shall perform or induce an abortion when the fetus is
24       viable unless such person is a physician and has a documented referral
25       from another physician not financially associated with the physician per-
26       forming or inducing the abortion and both physicians determine that: (1)
27       the abortion is necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant
28       woman; or (2) the fetus is affected by a severe or life-threatening defor-
29       mity or abnormality.
30           (b) (c) Violation of this section is a class A person misdemeanor se-
31       verity level 3, person felony.
32           Sec. 2. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 65-6703 is hereby repealed.
33           Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
34       publication in the statute book.
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