The Texas Flexibility Caucus, a legislative caucus in the Texas Household of Associates, sent a threatening letter to a law firm with destinations in Dallas and Houston that planned to reimburse vacation expenditures for employees wanting an abortion.
In the letter, which was dealt with to Sidley Austin LLP, the 11 representatives of the caucus wrote that legislation will be introduced to impose civil and felony sanctions on law companies that shell out for abortion or abortion travel.
“We are writing to inform you of the outcomes that you and your colleagues will facial area for these steps,” it claimed.
The proposed legislation will prohibit any employer in the condition from having to pay for elective abortions or reimbursing abortion-associated prices no matter of exactly where the abortion happens. In accordance to these lawmakers, personal citizens will be permitted to sue any individual who pays for an elective abortion done on a Texas resident.
If handed, the legislation will grant The Point out Bar of Texas to disbar any law firm who has violated any abortion statutes.
The Texas Freedom Caucus said Sidley had aided or abetted drug-induced abortions that violate the Texas Heartbeat Act, a law that bans abortions at about six months of pregnancy. In accordance to the letter, litigation is currently underway to establish employees who may possibly have been involved.
“To the extent that Sidley is facilitating abortions carried out in violation of posting 4512.1, it is exposing itself and every single of its companions to felony prison prosecution and disbarment.”
According to an e-mail viewed by Bloomberg Regulation, Sidley explained it would deal with abortions and related journey expenses for workforce in states where by restrictions are likely into result.
On June 24, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a lawful precedent from 1973 that designed abortion legal throughout the US.
Previous 12 months, State Senate Monthly bill 8 took outcome in Texas which outlawed abortion all around 6 months of gestation, even in instances of rape and incest. The latest ruling will create criminal penalties for people who execute 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 Freedom Caucus did not instantly reply to Insider’s ask for for remark.