Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/25/2009 06:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB35 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 35 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 35
"An Act relating to notice and consent for a minor's
abortion; relating to penalties for performing an
abortion; relating to a judicial bypass procedure for
an abortion; relating to coercion of a minor to have an
abortion; relating to reporting of abortions performed
on minors; amending Rule 220, Alaska Rules of Appellate
Procedure, and Rule 20, Alaska Probate Rules, relating
to judicial bypass for an abortion; and providing for
an effective date."
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
6:35:48 PM MARINA Spoke against HB 35. She spoke of money
LINDSEY, lost in a previous bill. She believed
JUNEAU, this bill will hurt many children who
are already vulnerable. She hoped for
teen education to prevent pregnancy.
6:38:47 PM CAROLINE Expressed opposition to HB 35. She did
SCHULTZ, not believe this to be a judicial way
CHUGIAK, to spend funds. She believed this an
inequity issue between city and rural
young people.
6:42:15 PM Representative Expressed that just because committee
Gara members do not ask questions it does
not mean that they are not paying
attention.
6:43:22 PM THEDA PITTMAN, Spoke against HB 35. She thought the
ANCHORAGE bill was misguided. She believed more
testified via planning should be offered in teen
teleconference pregnancy education. She considered
this bill against the will of the
people. She stressed that the
legislature should use fiscal
responsibility wisely.
6:46:59 PM CLOVER SIMON, Spoke against HB 35. She clarified
ANCHORAGE, misinformation on various birth control
VICE medicines. She corrected the number of
PRESIDENT, teens that access abortion services in
ALASKA FOR Alaska. She declared about 90 percent
PLANNED of teens do involve their parents in
PARENTHOOD the decision. She noted Planned
GREAT Parenthood is in the business of
NORTHWEST preventing pregnancy by supplying
testified via information and birth control. It does
teleconference not promote abortion, but is a service
for people in need. She noted the great
expense to those from rural areas.
6:51:46 PM Representative Voiced his concern on the 48 hour
Gara waiting period and he wanted to know
when young women first realize they are
pregnant.
6:52:47 PM Clover Simon Acknowledged that women under the age
of 17 often have later term abortions,
th
in the 10 week. Adding on a 48 hour
wait period could push them over the
first trimester which would require a
trip to Seattle.
th
6:53:37 PM Representative Wanted to know if the 10 week is an
th
Gara average or some in the 10 week. He
asked if this is on the edge of the
first trimester.
Clover Simon Agreed this is the on the edge of the
first trimester. The first trimester in
Alaska is considered to 13 weeks and 6
days.
6:54:10 PM Representative Asked for clarification if it was an
Gara average of 10 weeks.
Clover Simon Replied it was on average 10 weeks.
6:54:23 PM KATHERINE Spoke against HB 35. She believed that
BROWN, this bill was based on false logic. She
ANCHORAGE also indicated this was a misuse of the
testified via states money.
teleconference
6:55:08 PM KATHLEEN DAM, Testified in opposition to HB 35. She
ANCHORAGE promoted sex education as a way to
testified via prevent teen pregnancy.
teleconference
6:56:48 PM JEFFREY Expressed opposition to HB 35. He
MITTMAN, expressed the needless financial risk
ANCHORAGE, to the state. He spoke of harm to teens
ALASKA CIVIL but this would not harm the parent-
LIBERTIES child relationship. He warned of the
testified via risk that young women would seek
teleconference illegal dangerous abortions.
7:00:47 PM Representative Asked if Mr. Mittman was an attorney.
Gara
7:01:00 PM Jeffrey Answered yes he was.
Mittman
7:01:04 PM Representative Asked which provisions in this bill are
Gara believed to be unconstitutional.
7:01:21 PM Jeffery Noted that the Alaska Supreme Court
Mittman looked at the issue of privacy
protected under the Alaska State
Constitution.
7:02:14 PM Representative Questioned if the 48 hour waiting
Gara period was unconstitutional.
7:02:28 PM Jeffrey Noted the courts would like to look at
Mittman the realistic impact. In a state like
Alaska there are problems with the
infrastructure, travel and resources.
The realities of Alaska is that the 48
hour waiting period would be looked at
by the courts as a barrier or bar so
the teen is restricted from needed
medical care.
7:03:02 PM Representative Asked if any other provisions caused
Gara concern to the Alaska Constitution.
7:03:22 PM Jeffery Pointed out that the way the judicial
Mittman bypass is written that a teen get a
notarized statement which is
corroborated by another individual. The
court could look at these as reasonable
but restrictive as a bar and the court
could look at this as an
unconstitutional invasion of the teen's
privacy.
7:04:07 PM Co-Chair Asked if there were any good faith
Stoltze efforts that were improvements on the
part of the sponsor's work.
7:04:14 PM Jeffrey Agreed this is good faith effort in the
Mittman attempt to foster parent-child
communication, but as written with the
numerous bars to teens accessing
medical care, the harms far outweigh
any good intentions.
7:04:52 PM KAY Expressed opposition to HB 35 and
LAHDENPERA, feared self abortion rising again. She
ANCHORAGE voiced her concern for the young people
testified via in Alaska.
teleconference
7:08:37 PM KAREN LEWIS, Spoke in support of HB 35. She
EXECUTIVE applauded the legislature for this
DIRECTOR FOR bill. She reported about 40 percent of
ALASKA RIGHT-teens have abortions without parent's
TO-LIFE, MAT-consent. She believed parents should be
SU testified involved in all issues concerning the
via teen. She warned of the psychological
teleconference and physical damaging issues after
abortion. She provided statistics
supporting her beliefs.
7:14:54 PM BARRETT Spoke against HB 35. He observed that
FLETCHER, the fiscal note will be challenged in
HOMER court and all Alaskans will be paying
testified via for the beliefs of a few.
teleconference
7:16:27 PM JAMES KENNON Spoke in support of HB 35. He indicated
SPIERS, how upset he would be if his daughter
FAIRBANKS had an abortion without his knowledge.
testified via
teleconference
7:18:46 PM TAMMIE WILSON, Spoke in support of HB 35. She agreed
FAIRBANKS that parents should be consulted before
testified via an abortion happens.
teleconference
7:20:35 PM Representative Commended the last two speakers for
Gara voicing their opinions without
attacking those with different beliefs.
7:21:52 PM DEBBIE JOSLIN, Spoke in support of HB 35. She believed
DELTA JUNCTION the rights of parents needed to be
testified via instituted into law. She believed it
teleconference protects young people against their
immaturity. She stressed that young
women are at risk from predatory males
who may force them to have an abortion.
7:26:34 PM NANCY BISHOP, Spoke against HB 35. She maintained
ANCHORAGE that many young people do not come from
testified via supportive homes. She expressed the
teleconference fear of back alley dangerous abortions.
She regarded sex education as a better
way to spend the state's money.
7:29:38 PM ROBIN FORD, Testified against HB 35. She pointed
ANCHORAGE out that parental consent would not
testified via prevent abortion. She suggested a state
teleconference mandated sex education program.
7:31:42 PM SHAWN BECK, Expressed opposition to HB 35. She
SUBSTANCE revealed that teens often do not have a
ABUSE close or healthy parental bond. She
COUNSELOR, believed if a road block existed, many
KETCHIKAN would seek desperate measures. She
testified via stressed that not everyone has a
teleconference perfect family and putting policy were
it does not belong. She noted that the
bill had already been found
unconstitutional. She suggested that
money should be directed toward solving
the problem by providing sex education
for teens.
7:32:58 PM MEGHAN Spoke against HB 35 and stated concerns
GAUGHAN, about the costs to the state of
STUDENT, UAA contesting the constitutionality of the
testified via bill. She feared young women would
teleconference resort to unsafe abortion options. She
shared experiences with women in rural
communities and thought the 48-hour
notice was unjust especially in remote
areas.
7:36:24 PM ROGER OWENS, Testified in opposition to the
RETIRED legislation on behalf of himself and
MILITARY his daughters. He would not force his
OFFICER, daughters to have a child they did not
ANCHORAGE want, nor would he force them to have
testified via an abortion. He had concerns about
teleconference court costs and other future costs.
7:40:22 PM Representative Acknowledged her connection with and
Fairclough respect for Mr. Owens.
7:40:51 PM PATRICIA Expressed opposition to HB 35 because
STOLL, WASILLA of unconstitutionality. She did not
testified via believe communication could be
teleconference legislated. In addition, the 48-hour
waiting period is wrong.
7:42:30 PM AMY DEVEREUX, Spoke in opposition to HB 35. She
ANCHORAGE described her personal experience as a
testified via young person. She noted the high rates
teleconference of child abuse in Alaska and the
difficulty of some teens in speaking
with parents. She was concerned about
court costs in a weak economy.
7:45:10 PM PATRICIA Urged opposition to HB 35 as a mother
ODDEN, WASILLA and grandmother. She thought teens in
testified via danger in a village would not get
teleconference necessary and expensive medical
attention. She called for sex
education.
7:46:37 PM NIKKI HUNTER, Voiced support in HB 35. She believed
SALCHA this bill would protect young woman who
testified via want to keep their children. She
teleconference thought teens going in for a pregnancy
test would be offered hormonal birth
control without the education that it
does not protect against STDs. She
thought parents could educate children
and guide their children better if they
were involved.
7:49:47 PM BRUCE LALONDE, Spoke in support of HB 35. He noted as
ANCHORAGE a foster parent, he believed young
testified via children under 17 are not mature enough
teleconference to make their own decisions.
7:50:51 PM DEB SCHULTZ, Testified in opposition to HB 35. She
CHUGIAK considered this a bad fiscal choice for
testified via the time. She honored her children to
teleconference make reliable choices.
7:52:46 PM KATE WEST, Spoke against HB 35. She believed that
FAIRBANKS most young people would inform their
testified via parents, but if they did not, it was
teleconference usually for a very good reason.
7:54:28 PM AT EASE
7:55:23 PM RECONVENED
7:55:27 PM CHERYL HUMME, Testified in opposition to HB 35. She
BARROW believed every child should be a wanted
testified via child. She advocated that more sex
teleconference education as a better way to spend the
state's money. She believed this would
put some families at greater danger.
7:59:59 PM KATHY FOREST, Spoke against HB 35. She thought this
ANCHORAGE bill would hurt those young people who
testified via do not have the support of their
teleconference parents. She thought the money could be
better spent on education.
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