LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Kevin Daley, on Wednesday introduced legislation to strengthen the state’s laws against partial-birth and coerced abortions.
“I am proudly pro-life and strongly believe it is part of my duty to protect our state’s vulnerable individuals,” said Daley, R-Lum. “The bills I introduced today would help protect mothers against coercion and forced procedures and further deter the gruesome and especially inhumane practice of partial-birth abortions — which were illegal even before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.”
Senate Bills 106 and 107 would increase the penalties and sentencing guidelines for coercing women into having an abortion and performing partial-birth abortions.
Under the legislation, violations against state laws prohibiting a woman from being forced into an abortion against her will would increase from a fined misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Penalties would be tougher when the coercer is the baby’s father — five-year and $20,000 maximums.
Additionally, abortion providers who perform partial-birth abortions — a process in which a living fetus is dismembered as it emerges from the womb — would face a felony charge punishable by four years in prison, increased from two, and a maximum fine of $50,000.
Daley’s bills were part of a larger pro-life legislative package introduced by Senate Republicans on Wednesday.
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