Maine § 22 §1598 Abortions

Maine Statutes

§ 22 §1598 — Abortions

Maine·Title 22 HEALTH AND WELFARE·Part 3 PUBLIC HEALTH·Ch. 263-B ABORTIONS

1.Policy. It is the public policy of the State that the State not restrict a woman's exercise of her private decision to terminate a pregnancy before viability except as provided in section 1597‑A. It is also the public policy of the State that all abortions may be performed only by a health care professional, as defined in section 1596, subsection 1, paragraph C. 1-A. Preemption. The State intends to occupy and preempt the entire field of legislation concerning the regulation of a person's decision to terminate a pregnancy and legislation concerning the provision of abortion. No political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, townships, plantations and village corporations, may adopt any order, ordinance, rule or regulation concerning the regu

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1.
Policy.
It is the public policy of the State that the State not restrict a woman's exercise of her private decision to terminate a pregnancy before viability except as provided in section 1597‑A. It is also the public policy of the State that all abortions may be performed only by a health care professional, as defined in section 1596, subsection 1, paragraph C.
1-A.
Preemption.
The State intends to occupy and preempt the entire field of legislation concerning the regulation of a person's decision to terminate a pregnancy and legislation concerning the provision of abortion. No political subdivision of the State, including, but not limited to, municipalities, counties, townships, plantations and village corporations, may adopt any order, ordinance, rule or regulation concerning the regulation of a person's decision to terminate a pregnancy or concerning the provision of abortion.
1-B.
(REALLOCATED FROM T. 22, §1598, sub-§1-A) Abortion after viability.
After viability, an abortion may be performed only when it is necessary in the professional judgment of a physician licensed pursuant to Title 32, chapter 36 or 48. The physician shall apply the applicable standard of care in making a professional judgment under this subsection.
2.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms shall have the following meanings.
3.
Persons who may perform abortions; penalties.
4.
Abortions after viability; criminal liability.

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Legislative History

PL 1979, c. 360 (NEW). PL 1979, c. 405, §2 (NEW). PL 1979, c. 663, §133 (RAL). PL 1993, c. 61, §2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 262, §§4, 5 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §98 (COR). PL 2023, c. 352, §1 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 416, §§2-5 (AMD). RR 2023, c. 1, Pt. A, §8 (COR). PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).