AI-assisted research summary: This section states legislative findings and purpose about protecting unborn children and women’s health, and about improving preabortion screening, counseling, and statistical data.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares: (1) That the following provisions were motivated by the legislative intrusion of the United States Supreme Court by virtue of its decision removing the protection afforded the unborn. Sections 28-325 to 28-345 are in no way to be construed as legislatively encouraging abortions at any stage of unborn human development, but are rather an expression of the will of the people of the State of Nebraska and the members of the Legislature to provide protection for the life of the unborn child whenever possible; (2) That the members of the Legislature expressly deplore the destruction of the unborn human lives which has and will occur in Nebraska as a consequence of the United States Supreme Court's decision on abortion of January 22, 1973; (3) That it is in the interest of the people of the State of Nebraska that every precaution be taken to insure the protection of every viable unborn child being aborted, and every precaution be taken to provide life-supportive procedures to insure the unborn child its continued life after its abortion; (4) That currently this state is prevented from providing adequate legal remedies to protect the life, health, and welfare of pregnant women and unborn human life; (5) That it is in the interest of the people of the State of Nebraska to maintain accurate statistical data to aid in providing proper maternal health regulations and education; (6) That the existing standard of care for preabortion screening and counseling is not always adequate to protect the health needs of women; (7) That clarifying the minimum standard of care for preabortion screening and counseling in statute is a practical means of protecting the well-being of women and may better ensure that abortion doctors are sufficiently aware of each patient's risk profile so they may give each patient a well-informed medical opinion regarding her unique case; and (8) That providing right to redress against nonphysicians who perform illegal abortions or encourage self-abortions is an important means of protecting women's health. History: Laws 1977, LB 38, § 40; Laws 1997, LB 23, § 1; Laws 2010, LB594, § 2.