Montana Parental Notification Measure, LR-120 (2012)

Parental Notification Measure
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Type:	State statute
State code:	41-1-405, 47-1-104, MCA. Repealing other sections
Referred by:	Montana State Legislature
Topic:	Abortion
Status:	a

The Montana Parental Notification Measure, called LR-120, was on the November 6, 2012 statewide ballot in the state of Montana as a legislatively-referred state statute, where it was approved. The measure related to parental rights in the act of a minor's abortion, where parents would be notified before the process would take place. The measure was introduced by State Representative Pat Ingraham during a debate in 2011 state legislative session.

Aftermath

Spurred on by the success of the measure, the Montana house began work on passing a bill that would go a step further than the measure and require parental consent before a minor could get an abortion. The bill, HB 391, goes even further by requiring that both parent and patient sign a notification form prepared by anti-abortion activists describing dangers of the procedure.

Opponents of the new bill say it is unconstitutional because it constitutes an invasion of the right of privacy spelled out by the courts. An identical referral of the bill is also being prepared int he case of a veto by the governor.

Election results

See also: 2012 ballot measure election results

The following are unofficial election results:

Montana LR-120
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		334,416	70.55%
No		139,598	29.45%

Results are certified and final.

Official results via Montana Secretary of State.

Text of measure

Ballot language

The ballot language that voters saw read:

LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 120
AN ACT REFERRED BY THE LEGISLATURE

AN ACT REQUIRING PARENTAL NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO AN ABORTION FOR A MINOR; PROVIDING FOR A JUDICIAL WAIVER OF NOTIFICATION; PROVIDING PENALTIES; REPEALING PRIOR STATUTES RELATING TO PARENTAL NOTIFICATION; PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED ACT BE SUBMITTED TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA; AMENDING SECTIONS 41-1-405 AND 47-1-104, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 50-20-201, 50-20-202, 50-20-203, 50-20-204, 50-20-205, 50-20-208, 50-20-209, 50-20-211, 50-20-212, AND 50-20-215, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

LR-120 prohibits a physician from performing an abortion on a minor under 16 years of age unless a physician notifies a parent or legal guardian of the minor at least 48 hours prior to the procedure. Notice is not required if: (1) there is a medical emergency; (2) it is waived by a youth court in a sealed proceeding; or (3) it is waived by the parent or guardian. A person who performs an abortion in violation of the act, or who coerces a minor to have an abortion, is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability.

[] FOR requiring parental notification prior to abortion for a minor, providing for judicial waiver of notification, repealing prior statutes, and providing penalties.

[] AGAINST requiring parental notification prior to abortion for a minor, providing for judicial waiver of notification, repealing prior statutes, and providing penalties.

Summary

The summary of the bill reads:

An act requiring parental notification prior to an abortion for a minor; providing for a judicial waiver of notification; providing penalties; repealing prior statutes relating to parental notification; providing that the proposed act be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana; amending sections 41-1-405 AND 47-1-104, MCA; repealing sections 50-20-201, 50-20-202, 50-20-203, 50-20-204, 50-20-205, 50-20-208, 50-20-209, 50-20-211, 50-20-212, and 50-20-215, MCA; and providing an effective date.

Support

• Supporters argued that teenage girls are required by law to receive their parents permission for lesser medical decisions, like taking Tylenol at school or getting their ears pierced, so it makes sense that parents should be alerted before an abortion is performed.

• In speaking of the absence of a parental notification requirement, Jeff Laszloffy, president of the Montana Family Foundation, said, "From our perspective, this is a case where the government has placed itself squarely between parents and children, and prevented parents from protecting their children."

Opposition

• Opponents countered that conflicts over ear piercing and pain medication do not create the level of fear and despair of teen pregnancy. Julianna Crowley, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Montana, said, "Young women don’t kill themselves because they have to ask a parent for a Tylenol."

• Opponents also argued that the measure is unnecessary. Planned Parenthood of Montana spokeswoman Stacey Anderson has cited the fact that of the 22 minors seeking abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in Montana from 2011 to 2012, 21 of them told their parents they were having the procedure.

Path to the ballot

House of Representatives

The measure was first introduced to the Montana House of Representatives on March 18, 2011, and was referred to committee the same day. The House Judiciary Committee heard the bill on March 24, 2011, and voted to place the measure in front of the full chamber with a vote of 14 to 6 on March 25, 2011.

After three readings, the measure was passed by the House on March 30, 2011 with a vote of 62 to 32. It was then transmitted to the Montana State Senate that day.

Senate

After being sent to the Senate, the proposal was first read and transported to committee on April 4, 2011. It was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with amendments, on April 19, 2011 with a vote of 7 to 5. The full chamber voted in favor of the amended proposal on April 27, 2011, after three readings, with a vote of 65 to 35, sending it back to the Montana House of Representatives.

House vote on bill amendments

The House concurred the amendments made by the Senate on April 26, 2011, with a vote of 65 to 34. A third reading was scheduled for April 27, 2011, where the House voted in favor of the amended bill, with the final tally being 65 to 35. This placed the measure on the ballot, as it was filed with the Montana Secretary of State on May 2, 2011.

Timeline

The following is a timeline of events surrounding the measure:

Event	Date	Developments
Introduction	Mar. 18, 2011	Was first introduced to the Montana House of Representatives.
Hearing	Mar. 24, 2011	The House Judiciary Committee heard the bill.
Vote	Mar. 25, 2011	The House Judiciary Committee voted to place the measure in front of the full chamber, 14 to 6.
Approval	Mar. 30, 2011	Measure was passed by the House.
First Read	Apr. 4, 2011	The proposal was first read and transported to Senate committee.
Vote	Apr. 19, 2011	Passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with amendments with a vote of 7 to 5.
Approval	Apr. 27, 2011	Senate approved bill, 65 to 35 , sending it back to House, where it was approved again.
Filing	May 2, 2011	Measure placed on ballot, filed with Montana Secretary of State.

See also

By Eric Veram Ballot measure writer

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• Montana 2012 ballot measures
• 2012 ballot measures
• Montana Legislature
• Abortion in 2012

Articles

• Montana's 2012 newly certified ballot measure echoes 2010 Alaska proposal

External links

• Constitutional changes would restrict abortion
• Committee contributions at FollowTheMoney.org