Federal Parental Notification Law Introduced

On Monday, Senator John Boozman (R-AR) introduced a bill that would require that the parents of minors seeking abortion services be notified by certified mail and that doctors wait at least four days before performing an abortion. Doctors who do not abide by the requirement could be fined up to $1 million and have to serve up to 10 years in prison.

Senator Boozman stated that although some states have parental notification laws, a federal parental notification law would prevent minors from crossing state lines to obtain abortion services. Such parental consent laws are extremely harmful to young girls, especially victims of abuse.

Media Resources: National Partnership for Women and Families 5/18/11; The Hill 5/17/11

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