Texas Senate Approves Bill Requiring Parental Consent for Minors Seeking Abortion

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 22 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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The Texas Senate on Wednesday approved 24-5 a bill... (SB 1150) that would require parental consent for minors seeking abortion in the state, the Houston Chronicle reports (Gilbert, Houston Chronicle, 5/19). Under current state law, parents of minors seeking abortion must be notified in writing 48 hours before the procedure. The measure would change the law by substituting the word "consent" for "notification." However, the remainder of the current law -- under which physicians could be charged with a misdemeanor for violating the law but disallows charges to be brought against minors undergoing the procedure -- would remain the same (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 5/18). Under the measure, sponsored by state Sen. Chris Harris (R), a minor who wished to avoid parental consent would be able to obtain a judicial bypass if a judge determined that involving a parent would put the minor at risk of physical or emotional abuse or if the minor is mature enough to make the decision herself.

House Bills, Next Steps
The measure now goes to the state House, which earlier this week approved a similar measure as an amendment to another bill (SB 419) (Houston Chronicle, 5/19). The amendment to SB 419, which reauthorizes the State Board of Medical Examiners, would require physicians to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before performing an abortion on a minor. The amendment also would make failing to obtain a signed consent form a license violation for a physician (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 5/18). However, the House last week defeated a different parental consent measure (HB 1212), sponsored by state Rep. Phil King (R), that would have made it more difficult for minors to gain judicial bypass. Although some state House members might attempt to attach King's "tougher language" to the Senate bill, Harris is "adamant" that he will accept no changes to his bill, according to the Chronicle. King on Thursday said he does not know if there is enough time to change the Senate bill but that he would meet with Harris to discuss possibilities, according to the Chronicle (Houston Chronicle, 5/19). Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has said that he is "eager" to sign a parental consent bill into law, according to the Fort Worth Star -Telegram (Moritz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5/19).

"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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