Ballot Title Setting Board
2019-2020

The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

A change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning prohibiting an abortion when the probable gestational age of the fetus is at least twenty-two weeks, and, in connection therewith, making it a felony for any person to perform or induce, or to attempt to perform or induce, an abortion when the probable gestational age of the fetus is at least twenty-two weeks; defining terms related to the measure including “probable gestational age” and “abortion,” and excepting from the definition of “abortion” medical procedures relating to miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy; providing an affirmative defense to a person charged with performing or inducing or attempting to perform or induce a prohibited abortion if a physician determined an abortion was immediately required to save the life of a woman who was threatened by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, but not solely by a psychological or emotional condition; specifying that a woman on whom an abortion is performed may not be charged with a crime in relation to a prohibited abortion; requiring a pregnancy terminated after twenty-two weeks to be performed in a manner that provides the best opportunity for the fetus to survive, unless it poses a greater risk of death to the pregnant woman; and requiring the Colorado medical board to suspend the license of a physician whom the board finds performed or induced or attempted to perform or induce a prohibited abortion.

The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning prohibiting an abortion when the probable gestational age of the fetus is at least twenty-two weeks, and, in connection therewith, making it a felony for any person to perform or induce, or to attempt to perform or induce, an abortion when the probable gestational age of the fetus is at least twenty-two weeks; defining terms related to the measure including “probable gestational age” and “abortion,” and excepting from the definition of “abortion” medical procedures relating to miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy; providing an affirmative defense to a person charged with performing or inducing or attempting to perform or induce a prohibited abortion if a physician determined an abortion was immediately required to save the life of a woman who was threatened by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, but not solely by a psychological or emotional condition; specifying that a woman on whom an abortion is performed may not be charged with a crime in relation to a prohibited abortion; requiring a pregnancy terminated after twenty-two weeks to be performed in a manner that provides the best opportunity for the fetus to survive, unless it poses a greater risk of death to the pregnant woman; and requiring the Colorado medical board to suspend the license of a physician whom the board finds performed or induced or attempted to perform or induce a prohibited abortion?

Hearing August 21, 2019

Single subject approved; staff draft amended; titles set. The Board made technical corrections to the text of the initiative.
Hearing adjourned 3:20 PM.

Rehearing September 4, 2019

Motions for Rehearing granted only to the extent that the Board made changes to the titles; denied in all other respects.
Hearing adjourned 11:45 AM.

* Unofficially captioned "Prohibition on Late-Term Abortions" by legislative staff for tracking purposes. This caption is not part of the titles set by the Board.