Parental Notification Measure Modified

Supporters of Proposition 85 say a 2005 parental notification measure was defeated because it appeared on the ballot for a special election that had low voter turnout, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Like Proposition 73 in 2005, Proposition 85 would require unmarried minors to notify a parent or guardian before undergoing an abortion. The initiative includes exceptions for medical emergencies, emancipated minors and judicial waivers (Feder Ostrov, San Jose Mercury News, 10/11).

The 2005 ballot measure defined abortion as the termination of "a child conceived, but not yet born" (California Healthline, 6/21). Such language was excluded when authors drafted Proposition 85. Opponents of the measure said such language could further restrict abortion rights in California.

In addition, Proposition 85 would not mandate that statistics on judges' approval of waivers be made public.

Thirty-four states nationwide have parental notification laws (San Jose Mercury News, 10/11).

"Proposition 85 is more about closing access to legal abortions than protecting young women," a Bakersfield Californian editorial states, recommending, "Voters should reject Proposition 85" (Bakersfield Californian, 10/10).

KQED's "Forum" on Wednesday in the second hour of the program included a discussion of Proposition 85. Guests on the program included Vince Hall, communications director for Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties and spokesperson for the campaign to defeat the measure, and Albin Rhomberg, spokesperson for the campaign in favor of Proposition 85 (Krasny, "Forum," KQED, 10/11). The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.