Jim Justice, the Republican governor of West Virginia, has signed Senate Bill 468 into law. Abortions are prohibited by the legislation “because of a disability, except in a medical emergency.”

The bill which is also known as the Unborn Child with Down Syndrome Protection and Education Act defines disability as “the presence or presumed presence of a disability or diagnosis in a fetus including, but not limited to, chromosomal disorders or morphological malformations occurring as the result of atypical gene expressions.”

SB 468 added: “Except in a medical emergency or a nonmedically viable fetus, a licensed medical professional may not perform or attempt to perform or induce an abortion unless the patient acknowledges that the abortion is not being sought because of a disability.”

Also, the new law orders licensed medical professionals to “document these facts in the patient’s chart and report such with the [Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health].”

According to The Christian Post, Justice also signed Senate Bill 647 recently, which prevents people with disabilities from being discriminated against when they are in need of an organ transplant.

The Governor tweeted: “[World Down Syndrome Day] made for the perfect day to sign SB 647 and SB 468. Both bills give deserved respect to our Down Syndrome community.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national pro-life organization Susan B. Anthony List, was happy with the signing of SB 468 and described it as “a bold step forward today in the fight against eugenic discrimination in America.”

In a statement, she said: “Research shows 99% of people with Down Syndrome lead happy lives, yet instead of being cherished and included, far too often they are targeted for destruction in the womb where they are most vulnerable.

“We are proud to stand with West Virginians, the community of self-advocates and their loved ones calling on our nation to ‘embrace, not erase’ Down Syndrome.”

SB 468 was sponsored by Republican Sen. Patricia Rucker and Delegate Kayla Kessinger.

Democratic Delegate Evan Hansen, who did oppose the legislation, warned that SB 468 “creates government overreach into personal family medical decisions.”

During a recent legislative debate, he argued that:  “This is an attempt to use people with disabilities as props for an anti-abortion agenda, something that the disability community has not asked for, as far as I know — and that’s just wrong.”