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Source: Associated Press; March 24,
2003
Colorado Bill Would Revive Parental Notification Law
Denver, CO -- The Colorado legislature is trying to revive a four-year-old
voter initiative requiring minors to notify their parents before
receiving an abortion.
But abortion supporters are warning that changes to the law would
only prompt another expensive legal challenge at a time when the
state is low on cash.
Voters approved the parental notification act in 1998, but Planned
Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains took the measure to court. The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled the pro-life measure
unconstitutional, citing the failure to include a sufficient exception
for health protection as required by the U.S. Supreme Court decision
in Roe v. Wade. Pro-life groups oppose such exceptions because they
make the laws less effective.
"We owe it to the people of Colorado to fix this initiative to make
it constitutional," said Sen. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs.
The House has approved the bill, House Bill 1214, and the Senate
Committee on State, Veterans and Military Affairs was expected to
vote on it Monday.
Jeanne Smith from the Colorado District Attorney's Counsel said
at a hearing last week that approval of the bill would result in
another lawsuit that could cost the state $1 million.
However, Sen. Bruce Cairns, R-Aurora, sponsor of the bill, said
he thinks the change will fulfill the will of Colorado voters. Proponents
of the bill at last week's hearing said minors should notify their
parents to get adult guidance and protection. Physical and emotional
problems associated with abortion may be too much for teens to handle
alone, they said.
Advocates also said they found it absurd that teenagers could get
abortions without adult input but needed parental approval for such
things as organ donations and tattoos.
"My daughter can't get a Tylenol from the school without my permission,
but she can get an abortion without my knowing," said Linda Brake,
an Aurora resident.
ACTION: Contact your Colorado State Legislators and urge support
for the Parental Notification bill. You can find contact information
for your members at http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetdir.nsf?opendatabase
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