Legislation to do away with parental notification law for underage women is now on the Governor’s desk.
The House joined the Senate in voting to repeal the act, which requires a provider to inform a minor’s parents or guardian that their child is seeking an abortion.
Currently, State Representative Anna Moeller of Elgin says the only way around that is for a teen to go to court.
“Over the last 8 years, we have had over 500 young women go through a judicial bypass process in order to access healthcare that is constitutionally guaranteed to them, because they cannot go to their parents.”
Moeller says legislation repealing the notification law will especially help victims of sexual abuse or assault. But opponents, like Representative Avery Bourne of Morrisonville, argued to keep the notification law in place.
“We’re not talking about 17 years old, exclusively who are months away from being 18. We are talking about middle schoolers potentially. Parents of middle schoolers not having the right to know that their daughter is going through this.”
It now goes to the Governor who has said he supports the change.
