FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Thursday, March 20, 2008

Contact: Senator Kathy Sgambati

(603) 271-3074

SENATE DEFEATS PARENTAL NOTIFICATION PROPOSAL

CONCORD – The Senate voted 15-9 to defeat a parental notification proposal that would have required that parents be notified if their minor daughter seeks an abortion unless she gets permission from a judge.

The proposal was identical to the parental notification requirements in Senate Bill 302 but was offered as an amendment to Senate Bill 527. It differed only slightly from the parental notification law that was found unconstitutional and repealed last session but added an exception to the notification requirements if a delay would lead to irreversible damage to a girl’s major bodily functions.

“Parental notification requirements even with judicial bypass can lead to delays that cause true harm to our young people’s physical health,” said Senator Maggie Hassan (D-Exeter). “We all hope we have a relationship with our children so they will come to us in moments of crisis but we have a higher obligation to protect the health and safety of all children.”

Hassan did support Senate Bill 527 without the amendment. That bill requires that a trained counselor provide information and support to pregnant teens under age 17. Where appropriate, counselors would encourage teens to involve their parents or other family.

“This bill is not about limiting choice or placing obstacles in the path of young women. It does not require parental notification. It mirrors what’s already being done in most of our state’s doctor offices and clinics. It’s about making sure an adult is involved in protecting the health and safety of our adolescents,” said Senator Kathleen Sgambati (D-Tilton), who sponsored the bill.

The legislation had the support of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the largest reproductive health care organization in New Hampshire.

Senate Bill 527 failed by a vote of 10-14 but a second motion sent it to interim study today.

“I believe this is a new and different approach to protecting our youth,” Sgambati said. “And I believe that the health and well being of our young people is worth a continuing conversation,” Sgambati said.