Fetal Homicide

The bill defined viable fetus as a fetus after 20 weeks gestation. HB 707 also amended existing law by creating penalties for unlawfully injuring a fetus, resulting in the termination of the pregnancy, in the same manner as the pregnant woman was injured. HB 707 would allow a person who murdered a pregnant woman to be charged with murdering both the woman and the fetus. Under this bill, the injury to the fetus would not have to be willful or purposeful, which was required under existing statute (for example, if a pregnant woman were harmed resulting in a terminated pregnancy and the person harming her did not know she was pregnant, that person could still be charged for the murder of the woman and the fetus)