(Des Moines, IA) HF 2329 which is a successor bill to HSB 621 that survived the first funnel week is still up for consideration in the Iowa House of Representatives. The bill if passed would ban the acquisition and research of aborted infant remains. The bill was voted out of the House Human Resources Committee on February 16th.
The bill reads, “A person shall not knowingly acquire, provide, receive, otherwise transfer, or use a fetal body part in this state, regardless of whether the acquisition, provision, receipt, transfer, or use is for valuable consideration.”
The ban, however, does not apply to diagnostic or remedial tests, procedures, or observations which have the sole purpose of determining the life or health of the pre-born baby in order to provide that information to the pregnant woman or to preserve the life or health of the unborn infant or pregnant woman. It also does not apply to funeral homes who are preparing the remains for burial, cremation or entombment or for receiving the remains for a pathological study.
Outside of the exceptions those who violate this act, if passed, would be guilty of committing a class C felony which is punishable by a prison term of no more than 10 years, as well as, a minimum fine of $1000 up to a $10,000 maximum fine.
The Iowa Board of Regents along with Iowa Annual Conference of United Methodists, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Family Planning Council of Iowa, League of Women Voters and ACLU-Iowa.
The Regents using taxpayer-funded lobbyists expressed their opposition last Thursday. Without this bill the University of Iowa would be allowed to use the tissue of aborted baby remains, as well as, acquire additional babies and baby body parts for research.
Supporting this bill is The FAMiLY Leader, Iowa Right to Life, and Iowa Catholic Conference.
This bill needs to pass out of the Iowa House and pass out of an Iowa Senate Committee this week in order to survive the 2nd funnel week cut.