Kentucky attorney general releases advisory on Human Life Protection Act

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Attorney General Daniel Cameron released an advisory Friday, June 24 providing an overview of the effect and scope of Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act.

The Human Life Protection Act bans abortions in most circumstances and took effect today, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a release by the attorney general’s office.

In 2019, the General Assembly passed the Human Life Protection Act, which included bipartisan support in both chambers. The release stated that, under the statute, no person can knowingly cause or aid in the “termination of the life of an unborn human being.” Performing a prohibited abortion is a felony. Additionally, the release further stated pregnant mothers are not subject to any criminal liability.

The Human Life Protection Act does not prohibit abortion when a licensed physician decides in his or her “reasonable medical judgment” that the procedure is necessary to protect the life of a pregnant mother, according to the attorney general’s office.

In an advisory, Cameron states that the Act takes effect today, June 24, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. The decision overturned Roe v. Wade and, as the court stated, returned “the issue of abortion to the people’s representatives.” In other words, the decision has left it up to states to decide on abortion laws.

For more information, you can read the full advisory here.