January 26, 2010

(MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA)—Representative Spencer Collier (R-Irvington) has filed a bill giving parents of unborn children in utero the right to file a civil action on behalf of those children. House Bill 316 extends the ability to file civil causes of action for injury or death to a minor child by parents to cover injury or death of an unborn child in utero at any state of development, regardless of viability.

“I believe that we must protect the rights of the unborn just as we do minor children. This bill will give parents rights to fight legal battles on behalf of their unborn children and is long overdue in Alabama,” Rep. Collier said today prior to the beginning of business in the Alabama House of Representatives.

House Bill 316 has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

In 2006, Spencer Collier sponsored and enacted House Bill 19, which expanded the criminal homicide and assault code to include unborn children.  House Bill 316 is the civil companion bill to the 2006 HB19.

Rep. Collier was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002 from District 105 and was reelected in 2006. Rep. Collier, a graduate of Troy University and a former Alabama State Trooper, is married to Melissa Collier, and they have four children, Christopher, Connor, Colby and Caroline.  The Colliers are members of Mobile Christian Center.

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