Arkansas Senate Approves Bill That Would Require Parental Consent Before Minors Could Undergo Abortion Procedures

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 18 Feb 2005 - 19:00 PDT

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The Arkansas Senate on Tuesday approved 27-3 a bill (HB 1033) that would require written consent from a parent or guardian before a woman under age 18 could undergo an abortion, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (Wickline/Bleed, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 2/16). The measure, which state Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson (R) prefiled last month, also would require any mentally incompetent woman -- regardless of age -- to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before undergoing an abortion. The measure would require a parent or guardian to give permission for the procedure in the presence of the abortion provider or submit their notarized signature. However, the bill would allow for exceptions in cases of incest or when pregnancy endangers the life of the woman. In addition, if a woman or girl does not wish to obtain consent from a parent or guardian, a judge would be required to hold a hearing to determine if the woman is mature enough to make her own decision about abortion and bypass the parental-consent requirement. Under the measure, violation of the law would constitute a misdemeanor and could result in civil action from the parent or guardian whose consent was required. Current state law requires that abortion providers notify a minor's guardian before performing an abortion but does not require parental consent (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 2/3). Although the state House already has approved the original version of the measure, the bill will return to the House for consideration of Senate amendments, none of which significantly altered the original bill, according to the Arkansas News Bureau (Thompson/Robinson, Arkansas News Bureau, 2/16). Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) has expressed support for the bill, according to the Associated Press (Nelson, Associated Press, 2/16).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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