Utah Bill Would Require Fetal Anesthesia Before Abortions

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A proposed Utah law requiring doctors to administer anesthesia to a fetus before an abortion has been unveiled.

The bill from Provo Republican Sen. Curt Bramble was made public Friday. His measure would require fetal anesthesia before an abortion performed after 20 or more weeks of gestation, based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that point.

Bramble said last week that he was working on the proposal but he wasn't ready to discuss its details.

Montana lawmakers passed a similar law in 2015 but the state's Democratic governor later vetoed the measure.

Bramble's bill has not yet had a hearing. Utah Republican Gov. Gary Herbert says he has no problem with the general concept of the proposal.

Abortion