U.S. House Expected To Vote on Bill Barring Transport of Minors Across State Lines To Avoid Abortion Parental Notification

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 01 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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US House members on Wednesday are expected to vote on a measure... (HR 748) that would allow federal charges to be filed against any individuals who transport minors across state lines for the purpose of evading state abortion parental notification or consent laws, CQ Today reports (Oleksyn/Teitelbaum, CQ Today, 4/21). The bill, known as the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, would authorize fines or up to one year in prison for people who violate the measure. The measure includes an exception if an abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant minor and would allow minors to gain judicial bypass from a judge in their home state to avoid parental notification. Under the bill, doctors who perform abortions on minors from other states also could be subject to penalties. The measure states that abortion providers in states without parental consent laws would be required to attempt to notify in person or by certified mail a parent or legal guardian of any minor abortion patient who is a resident of another state. Parents who are not notified of their minor child's abortion would be able to sue for civil damages. A Senate version of the measure (SB 403), sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), has not yet been heard in committee. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in January said that passing legislation to avoid circumvention of state parental consent or notification laws is one of the top 10 legislative priorities for Republicans in Congress this session (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/14). More than 30 states have parental notification or parental consent laws, but no federal law exists to require states to honor these laws when minors cross state lines to seek an abortion, CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 4/21).

Congressional Quarterly reporter Kate Schuler in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ" examines the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act and its prospects in the House, which is expected to pass the measure, and Senate, which has not yet been "tested" on the abortion issue this session (Schuler, "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ," 4/25). The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online.

"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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