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Parental consent bill passes state House

Editor's note: This story contains a correction. House Bill 35 would require parental consent for girls 17 and younger to get an abortion, not 16 as previously reported.

by Rhonda McBride
Thursday, April 2, 2009

JUNEAU, Alaska -- A bill that would require the parents of minors seeking an abortion to be notified passed the state House Thursday after impassioned debate on both sides of the issue.

Rep. John Coghill, the House Rules Committee chairman, introduced House Bill 35 in hopes of satisfying objections from the state Supreme Court, which struck down a similar law in 2006.

The measure would require parents to give their approval for girls 17 or younger to have an abortion. In certain cases, where incest or sexual abuse is involved, parents could be bypassed and the courts could authorize an abortion.

Proponents say this bill is not about abortion, but parental rights. Those on the other side of the debate say some parents are unfit, and pregnant teens should not be required to get their consent.

"The most common type of sexual abuse is a father committing incest with his daughter," said Rep. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage. "It's those girls we have to worry about."

Papa Pilgrim, who was famous for his battles against the National Park Service, was evoked, as well as his arrest and conviction for raping his daughter.

"The daughter of Papa Pilgrim for example, she couldn't talk to her parents," said Rep. Lindsey Holm, D-Anchorage. "I think most of us in this room agree that she shouldn't be going to her parents."

"I know there's Papa Pilgrims out there," said Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer. "I wish the bill, Mr. Rules Chair, was perfect. I'm sorry, it's not. It still puts us in a position where parents have some input."

Those in favor of the bill say even good parents can have daughters that go wrong.

Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, says a friend of her daughter's had an abortion without telling her parents and ran into trouble with excess bleeding.

"No one was taking care of her. Her parents didn't know, so they weren't taking care of her," Wilson said. "The other girl's parents didn't know, so they weren't taking care of her."

The bill has provisions for a judge to intervene in some cases , but rural lawmakers said this puts rural teens in jeopardy, because they don't have easy access to the courts.

"Where I come from, we don't have highways," Rep. Woody Salmon, D-Chalkyistsik said. "Only place you get to some of those villages is by boat, snowmachines, and airplanes."

In the end, the bill passed, largely along party lines with both sides in agreement that there are no easy answers to helping pregnant teens.

The vote was 22-14, mostly along party lines, with only two Democrats siding with the majority -- Anchorage Representative Chris Tuck and Bethel Represtative Bob Herron.

Gov. Sarah Palin voiced her support for the bill Feb. 26.

It now goes onto the Senate for consideration.

Contact Rhonda McBride at rmcbride@ktuu.com