# Plain Language Summary: Dignity for Aborted Children Act

This bill would require abortion providers to offer patients specific options for what happens to fetal tissue after an abortion procedure. Patients would receive a consent form with two choices: they can take the fetal tissue themselves to arrange burial or cremation through a funeral home, or they can authorize the abortion provider to handle the disposal. If a patient chooses the second option, the abortion provider would be legally required to arrange for the fetal tissue to be buried or cremated within seven days, following the same rules that apply to human remains in that state. The bill also requires abortion providers to keep signed consent forms on file and submit annual reports to the federal government about how many abortions they performed, at what stage of pregnancy, and how the fetal tissue was disposed of.

The bill creates serious legal consequences for violations. Abortion providers who fail to maintain proper paperwork could face civil fines up to $50,000. More significantly, providers who fail to properly dispose of fetal tissue through burial or cremation could face criminal charges, including up to five years in prison. Providers who don't submit required reports could also face criminal fines. However, the bill specifically protects patients from prosecution—women cannot be charged with crimes related to violations of these disposal requirements. The bill also allows states to impose even stricter requirements if they choose, and it doesn't affect existing state laws about how human remains must be handled.

Dignity for Aborted Children Act

Walorski, Jackie

Dignity for Aborted Children Act This bill sets out requirements for the disposition of human fetal tissue from an abortion. Specifically, it requires abortion providers to obtain a patient's informed consent for one of two specified methods of disposition. First, patients may choose to retain possession of the tissue. A patient may choose to transfer the tissue to an entity that provides interment or cremation services. Second, in cases where the tissue is expelled on the provider&rsquo;s premises, the patient may elect to release the tissue to the provider. Providers must ensure any tissue released to them is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains. Abortion providers must report annually about these requirements and other specified information. The bill provides civil or criminal penalties for violations of disposal, informed consent, and reporting requirements.