Summary

<p><strong>Please contact members of the Judiciary Committee to Support HB 5309. The first ever raised parental notification bill in recent history.</strong></p> <p><strong>We support this proposed legislation because.</strong></p> <p><strong>To ensure parental rights by requiring that at least one parent is notified or gives consent before their minor daughter has an abortion:</strong></p> <p>Public opinion polls consistently show a majority of Americans understand the value of parental involvement and support requiring parental notification before a minor's abortion.<br />To ensure teenage girls benefit from the best possible counsel and care before, during and after an abortion decision:</p> <p><strong>Most teenage girls are not prepared for the possible aftermath</strong> (physical, emotional, psychological) of abortion. They need their parents to be informed and involved.<br />It is indefensible for government (which can legally require parental involvement) to, by default, encourage girls to exclude their parents during this time in their lives.<br />To protect teenage girls from potentially dangerous medical situations before, during and after an abortion:</p> <p><strong>Parents must give consent for other medical procedures</strong> (excluding emergencies), including ear piercing and the disbursement of aspirin in a school setting. Minors often need their parents to sign school report cards and approve school field trips. Why should abortion be an exception?<br />Parental involvement laws decrease the risk of medical complications connected with the abortion by allowing parents to provide important medical information and history their daughter may not know or provide.<br />Parental involvement increases the likelihood the teenager will receive the needed follow-up care after the abortion.</p> <p><strong>To protect teenage girls from repeated sexual abuse.&nbsp;</strong>The absence of parental involvement laws puts teenagers who are victims of rape or incest at risk for repeated abuse. These laws generally include a provision for girls pregnant due to rape or incest to bypass parental notification or consent by a direct petitioning of the court. This triggers protective measures for the girl, who otherwise could have a "secret" abortion and return to a potentially abusive social or home environment.</p> <p><strong>Thirty-eight states</strong> have enacted some form of parental notification or parental consent requirement for minors seeking abortion. Connecticut should be the thirty-ninth.</p>

Gary Winfield Senator

Steve Stafstrom Representative

Jack Fazzino Representative

Pat Callahan Representative

Mae Flexer Senator

Craig Fishbein Representative

Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox Senator

John Kissel Senator

Matt Blumenthal Representative

Marcus Brown Representative

Paul Cicarella Senator

Mark DeCaprio Representative

Hubert Delany Representative

Jason Doucette Representative

Josh Elliott Representative

Jillian Gilchrest Representative

Greg Howard Representative

Dominique Johnson Representative

Maryam Khan Representative

Melissa Osborne Representative

Jorge Cabrera Senator

Pat Dillon Representative

Doug Dubitsky Representative

Herron Gaston Senator

Bob Godfrey Representative

Jonathan Jacobson Representative

Renee Muir Representative

Matt Lesser Senator

Ceci Maher Senator

Pat Miller Senator

Tom O'Dea Representative

Cara Pavalock-D'Amato Representative

Jason Perillo Senator

Donna Veach Representative

Michael Quinn Representative

M.D. Rahman Senator

Kadeem Roberts Representative

Travis Simms Representative

Dave Rutigliano Representative

Toni Walker Representative

Derell Wilson Representative