Document text
58 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, May 6, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 4, 2005 Parental-notification action passes House; Senate status unclear By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — The parent of a minor seeking an abortion would be given 48 hours’ notice by health-care providers under a bill passed by the House on Tuesday. House Bill 2605 was approved by a 32-27 vote, with only one Republican, Rep. Bob Jenson of Pendleton, voting against it. It now goes to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, was the chief sponsor. He also carried the bill on the floor even though it was reported out by the Judiciary Committee, which he doesn’t serve on. "Families are the fundamental glue of society," Richardson said. "Whether or not a girl’s going to have an abortion is not the issue. That is federal law," he said. The issue is a parent’s right to know, said Richardson, the father of eight daughters. Advertisement There are several exceptions to the notification requirement, including cases of medical emergency and pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. In the latter, the Department of Human Services and an administrative law judge would decide whether the minor should be exempt from the law. Richardson said a DHS attorney could also determine whether that child should be removed from an abusive home situation. "This gives him an opportunity of knowing what’s going on in the home," Richardson said. A minority report supported by Democrats made the decision to terminate a pregnancy one that is reached between a minor and her physician, but only after parental notification — again with some exceptions, such as in cases where notification would result in abuse to the minor. Richardson opposed the report, saying it would allow "abortionists" to perform the operation "if the medical provider decides it is in the best interest not to notify the parent." Rep. Carolyn Tomei, D-Gresham, objected when Richardson used the term "abortionist." House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, concluded it did not violate the rules of the chamber. Passage of the bill was hailed by Gayle Atterby of Portland, director of Oregon Right to Life. "The sponsor ... knows how important it is for parents not to be left out of the loop when it comes to a young girl making one of the most important decisions of her life," she said in a statement. She called HB 2605 a "common-sense piece of legislation." An analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Office predicted parental notification would reduce the number of abortions, including those financed through the Oregon Health Plan. According to DHS, there are about 1,660 abortions performed biennially on unmarried women under age 18. Passage of the act wouldreduce that by about 50 percent. The concurrent increase in the birth rate could result in increased enrollment of poverty level, pre- and post-partum mothers and children in OHP and a rise in cash grants or food stamps, the DHS said. Don Jepsen is a freelance writer living in Salem. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s