Texas GOP to Stop Law Firms From Paying for Abortion Travel and Expenses

• The Texas Liberty Caucus sent a letter to the law company Sidley Austin LLP. 
• The letter mentioned laws will be released to prohibit law companies from shelling out for abortion journey.
• “Carry out yourselves accordingly,” the letter cautioned.

The Texas Independence Caucus, a legislative caucus in the Texas Property of Reps, despatched a threatening letter to a regulation company with spots in Dallas and Houston that planned to reimburse journey costs for staff members seeking an abortion.

In the letter, which was addressed to Sidley Austin LLP, the 11 reps of the caucus wrote that legislation will be introduced to impose civil and legal sanctions on law firms that pay for abortion or abortion travel.

“We are composing to advise you of the outcomes that you and your colleagues will encounter for these actions,” it explained.

The proposed laws will prohibit any employer in the condition from paying for elective abortions or reimbursing abortion-linked expenses irrespective of exactly where the abortion happens. In accordance to these lawmakers, non-public citizens will be authorized to sue anybody who pays for an elective abortion carried out on a Texas resident. 

If handed, the regulation will grant The State Bar of Texas to disbar any attorney who has violated any abortion statutes. 

The Texas Freedom Caucus reported Sidley had aided or abetted drug-induced abortions that violate the Texas Heartbeat Act, a legislation that bans abortions at about six months of pregnancy. According to the letter, litigation is presently underway to establish staff who may perhaps have been involved.

“To the extent that Sidley is facilitating abortions done in violation of post 4512.1, it is exposing by itself and every of its companions to felony legal prosecution and disbarment.”

According to an electronic mail considered by Bloomberg Law, Sidley stated it would include abortions and relevant vacation costs for staff in states in which limits are going into result. 

On June 24, the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade, a authorized precedent from 1973 that created abortion lawful throughout the US. 

Final 12 months, Point out Senate Monthly bill 8 took influence in Texas which outlawed abortion about 6 months of gestation, even in cases of rape and incest. The most up-to-date ruling will build prison penalties for individuals who carry out or assist abortions at all phases of pregnancy. 

The letter was supported by the 11 conservative Texas lawmakers and concluded: “Carry out yourselves appropriately.”

Sidley Austin LLP and The Texas Flexibility Caucus did not instantly react to Insider’s ask for for remark.