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House gives first-round approval to informed consent for abortions

April 27, 2004
By: Monica Walter
State Capital Bureau
Links: HB 1339

The Missouri House gave first-round approval to a bill that would allow parents to sue out of state abortion providers for assisting their underage child in getting an abortion.

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OutCue: SOC

It's illegal for a minor to get an abortion in Missouri without parental consent...but that's not the case in Illinois.

St. Louis County Representative Jane Cunningham says this leads to minors crossing the state line to get abortions without their parent's consent.

She says that by sponsoring this bill, Missouri's law will be reinforced.

Actuality: CUNNING.WAV
RunTime: 15 seconds
OutCue:
Contents: "What this law does is just require that we honor the law we passed in Missouri and that we provide for civil liability for those who would help a minor child across the state line, to get an abortion."

If it clears it's last vote in the house, the bill will head to the senate for final approval. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.

mrw

The Missouri House of Representatives gave first round approval to a bill that would make it illegal to assist a minor in crossing state lines to get an abortion. Monica Walter reports from the state Capitol.

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OutCue: SOC

The bill would allow parents to sue anyone who helps an underage child to get an abortion without consent.

St. Louis area Representative Barbara Fraser says the bill is written badly because it doesn't protect rape victims or victims of incest.

Actuality: FRASR3.WAV
RunTime: 17 sec.
OutCue:
Contents: "A girl who would be raped by her father would not be in a position to have to ask her father if she could have permission to go across to another state to have an abortion. This would be a horrible situation where a father could punish a child by not allowing her to have an abortion."

The bill must receive one more vote in the house before moving to the Senate. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.