User:J9gonzal/be bold

In Texas, the Heartbeat Bill was first introduced as H.B NO. 1515, of which is also known as  the Texas Heartbeat act. Although similar, H.B NO 1515 is not to be confused with bill H.R 705, also known as the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2021, which was introduced to Congress on February 2nd, 2021. Both bill’s note the criminalization of physician’s performing abortions once a heartbeat is detected around the 6 week mark of a woman's pregnancy. Since H.B NO 1515 has been passed through the Texas legislature, the act will be effective starting September 1st, 2021.

A key aspect in the enforcement of the HB 1515 bill is connected to the cost of being sued. As listed in the introductory act it’s found that if an organization or individual were found guilty in assisting in an abortion, each individual would be fined a minimum of $10,000. The fine can grow larger depending on the amount of abortions a physician or organization is connected to by which the fine of each abortion facilitated would be $10,000. In contrast to the H.R 705 bill, the HB 1515 bill only mentions punishment through the 10,000$ fines previously noted, whereas if found guilty under the H.R 705 bill, physicians are not only subject to receiving a fine, but are also subject to prison time as well.

According to some individuals associated with the support of the HB1515 bill, the severity of the cost of being sued is intentional. John Seago an active legislative director for Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion organization based in Texas exemplifies this connection. Seago notes that the cost of getting sued can act as an incentive for abortion providers to avoid administering abortions. According to the Texas Tribute, "Seago said, ""Have a public statement. Put it on their website that they're not scheduling appointments after six weeks"", in doing so individuals associated with performing abortion halt their practice, and are no longer at risk for conducting the fine.