News from Senator Loren Leman

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: April 18, 1997 Contact: Senator Loren Leman 907/465-2095

Legislature Votes To Require Parental Consent For Youth Abortions

Bill Moves To Governor

JUNEAU -- Legislation to make enforceable a 1970 law requiring parental consent for abortion passed the State House Thursday by a vote of 28 to 10 and was concurred by the State Senate Friday. Senate Bill 24 now moves to the Governor for his consideration.

Senate Bill 24, sponsored by Senator Loren Leman (R-Anchorage), contains a "judicial bypass," a method that allows a judge to provide permission before an abortion can be performed on a minor, as an alternative to securing parental consent. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that state parental consent laws must contain the alternative judicial bypass to be constitutional.

The State House increased the age in which parental consent will be required to minors 16 years of age and under. The Senate version of SB 24 required parental consent for minors under 16.

"Parental consent is required for virtually every medical procedure except abortion," said Senator Leman. "Young people under 18 are not served alcohol, they can’t buy cigarettes, vote in elections, or even get married unless a parent consents -- so why should parents be removed from a decision that can physically and emotionally have a lasting effect on their child’s life?"

"This legislation is really not about the larger abortion debate. It’s about family communication and putting parents back into the decision-making loop with their children," Leman said.

"Opponents talk mostly about the hard cases -- abusive parents or dysfunctional families," Leman said. "The judicial bypass provides for these extenuating circumstances."

Parental consent is supported by 78 percent of Alaskans and has broad support nationwide with 38 states requiring parental involvement in the abortion decisions of minors.

Leman noted that other states with parental involvement laws have realized reductions in abortions, the number of teen pregnancies and teen births. In Minnesota, the teen pregnancy rate fell 20 percent, teen abortions declined 27 percent and the teen birth rate decreased 12 percent within the first six years its parental involvement law was in effect.

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