ATLANTA— State Representative Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced today that he will introduce a bill making it a felony to sell or purchase tissue obtained from an aborted fetus in Georgia. The legislation would make such transaction punishable by five years in prison.
“Women facing this crisis must be confident that they are able to receive counseling, as the law requires, from someone who is not selfishly motivated by profit,” said Rep. Willard. “I take seriously our charge to protect the dignity of human life, and we will see to it that those who would engage in such a barbaric trade will face the full force of justice in our state.”
Specifically, the bill would outlaw the sale or purchase, or offer of sale or purchase, of an aborted fetus or any part of such a fetus. The bill will provide exemption to transfer, without monetary consideration, such fetal tissue for hospitals, colleges/universities, and other laboratories and institutions that conduct medical research.
The bill will be introduced in the 2016 session of the General Assembly which convenes in January.
Representative Wendell Willard represents the citizens of District 51, which includes portions of Fulton County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2000, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and the Ex-Officio of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Ethics, Rules, and Ways & Means committees.
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