Nevada

Nevada enacted its “Freedom of Choice Act” in 1990, providing for a legal right to abortion in the state even if Roe v. Wade is eventually overturned.  As a result, over the last two decades, its abortion rate has been consistently higher than the national rate and it has failed to enact commonsense, protective laws designed to protect women and children from the harms inherent in abortion. Abortion:

• Nevada maintains a “Freedom of Choice Act.”  It mandates a state right to abortion even if Roe v. Wade is eventually overturned, specifically providing that abortions may be performed within 24 weeks after the commencement of a pregnancy.  Because Nevada voters approved a ballot initiative providing this state “right” to abortion, the statute will remain in effect and cannot be amended, repealed, or otherwise changed except by a direct vote of the people.
• A physician may not perform an abortion on a woman until after the physician or other qualified person informs her of the probable gestational age of the unborn child, describes the abortion procedure to be used and its risks, and explains the physical and emotional consequences of abortion.
• Nevada’s parental notification law has been declared unconstitutional.  The law sought to prohibit a physician from performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor under the age of 18 until notice had been given to one parent or a court order had been secured.
• Only physicians licensed by the State of Nevada or employed by the United States and using accepted medical practices and procedures may perform abortions.  Chiropractic physicians and osteopathic medical professionals are explicitly prohibited from performing abortions.
• The state has an enforceable abortion reporting law, but does not require the reporting of information to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• Nevada follows the federal standard for Medicaid funding for abortions, only permitting the use of federal or state matching Medicaid funds for abortions necessary to preserve the life of the woman or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
• Health plans providing prescription coverage must provide coverage for contraception.  An exemption applies to certain insurers affiliated with religious organizations.

Legal Recognition of Unborn and Newly Born:

• Nevada criminal law defines the killing of an unborn child after “quickening” (discernible movement in the womb) as a form of homicide.
• The state allows a wrongful death (civil) action when a viable unborn child is killed through a negligent or criminal act.
• Under Nevada law, all reasonable steps must be taken to preserve the life and health of an infant “whenever an abortion results in the birth of an infant capable of sustained survival by natural or artificial supportive systems.”
• The state defines substance abuse during pregnancy as “child abuse” under civil child welfare statutes.

Bioethics Laws:

• Nevada does not ban human cloning or destructive embryo research and does not regu­late assisted reproductive technologies.
• Further, the state does not promote ethical forms of research.

End of Life Laws:

• The legal status of assisted suicide in Nevada remains undetermined. The state has not enacted a specific statute prohibiting assisted suicide and does not recognize common law crimes (including assisted suicide).  Further, there is no judicial decision stating whether assisted suicide is a form of homicide under Nevada’s general homicide laws.

Healthcare Rights of Conscience Laws: Participation in Abortion:

• Except in a medical emergency, an employer may not require a nurse, nursing assistant, or other employee to participate directly in the performance of an abortion if that person has previously signed and provided a written statement indicating a religious, moral, or ethical basis for conscientiously objecting to participation in abortions.
• Except in a medical emergency, a private hospital or licensed medical facility is not re­quired to permit the use of its facilities for the performance of an abortion.

Participation in Research Harmful to Human Life:

• Nevada currently provides no protection for the rights of healthcare providers who con­scientiously object to participation in human cloning, destructive embryo research, and other forms of immoral medical research.

What Happened in 2012:

• Nevada did not hold a regular legislative session in 2012.

Recommendations for Nevada Top Priorities:

• Repeal State FOCA
• Abortion Mandate Opt-Out Act
• Defunding the Abortion Industry and Advancing Women’s Health Act
• Women’s Right to Know Act
• Parental Notification for Abortion Act
• Women’s Health Protection Act (abortion clinic regulations)
• Abortion-Inducing Drugs Safety Act
• Crimes Against the Unborn Child Act (protecting an unborn child from conception)
• Assisted Suicide Ban Act

Other Priorities: Abortion

• Women’s Ultrasound Right to Know Act
• Coercive Abuse Against Mothers Prevention Act
• Child Protection Act
• Joint Resolution Commending Pregnancy Centers

Legal Recognition and Protection for the Unborn:

• Unborn Wrongful Death Act (for pre-viable child)
• Pregnant Woman’s Protection Act

Bioethics:

• Human Cloning Prohibition Act
• Destructive Embryo Research Act
• Prohibition on Public Funding of Human Cloning and Destructive Embryo Research Act

End-of-Life:

• Healthcare Freedom of Conscience Act

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