California Definition of Person Amendment (2010)

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The goal of the proposed act was to amend Article I of the California Constitution to define the legal concept of "person." Specifically, the proposal is to add a new Section 7(c) that would say, "For the purpose of this section: The term "person" applies to all living human organisms from the beginning of their biological development -- regardless of the means by which they were procreated, method of reproduction, age, race, sex, gender, physical well-being, function, or condition of physical or mental dependency and/or disability."

Details

Ballot title: Changes Constitutional Definition of a Person to Include Fertilized Human Eggs. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Official summary: Extends constitutional protections of due process and equal protection to all fertilized human eggs by redefining "person" as including each and every human organism from the commencement of biological development.

Estimated fiscal impact: Potential increased costs for courts, law enforcement, and other agencies for criminal and civil proceedings. Potential costs and savings for health and social services programs if the courts determined that the measure restricts access to some types of birth control methods. Potential loss of state or local revenues due to reduced research activity that may be offset by reduced state spending on research. Unknown potential effects on state and local health care expenditures due to changes that may occur in medical practices.