Michigan's Coercive Abortion Prevention Act (S.B. 1177 and H.B.5882) are proposed legislation to amend the penal code to define specific actions as criminal if they are intended to coerce a pregnant woman into seeking an abortion. The penalty of jail time up to 15 years or a fine of not more than $7500 or both would be added to acts or threats that are already physical crimes (assault, stalking, attempted murder). These threats must be part of a pattern of repeated, harassing behavior, not a single statement or angry remark. If the pregnant woman is under the age of 18 and the perpetrator of the coercion is the adult father of the unborn child, the punishment can be doubled.
Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood opposes the bills.
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