Parental Notification Measure Qualifies for California Nov. Ballot
On Friday, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen (D) announced that a measure that would require parental notification before a minor could receive an abortion has qualified for the Nov. 4 state ballot, the AP/San Jose Mercury News reports. The measure also would establish a 48-hour waiting period for abortions on minors.
Voters rejected similar initiatives in 2005 and 2006 (AP/San Jose Mercury News, 5/31).
San Diego newspaper publisher James Holman has donated $1.4 million to the campaign, and former Assembly member Don Sebastiani (R) has contributed $500,000. Holman and Sebastiani were the lead contributors to both of the previous campaigns, as well.
Planned Parenthood opposed the measures in 2005 and 2006 and is expected to lead the opposition campaign to the current initiative (Goldmacher, Sacramento Bee, "Capitol Alert," 5/30).