Abortion Bill Seeks Parental Notification
The measure, HB 1449 and SB 2446, would require a judge to determine by the elevated standard of "clear and convincing evidence" that a minor is "sufficiently mature" to choose termination. Another provision prevents so-called judge shopping by requiring a pregnant girl to make the petition only at the local courthouse; requires a parent's signature get notarized for consent; and allows longer delays, up to three weeks, for final approval.
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Abortion rights advocates and leading Democrats, such as Rep. Jim Waldman of Coconut Creek, suggest the proposed restrictions would make the process "more onerous on a child and possibly more devastating."
Daria Dawson, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the bill doesn't address the heart of the problem: unintended teenage pregnancies.
This response from Ms. Dawson is nice little piece of misdirection, which makes sense. But let's be honest, abortion is not getting to the heart of the matter, either.
Having teens talk to their parents is not a bad idea. In fact, I would very much like to see the research that Mr. Waldman and Ms. Dawson has that points to the hazards of the teen/parent relationship.
