Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/02/2003 01:53 PM Senate JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 30-ABORTION: INFORMED CONSENT; INFORMATION
CHAIR RALPH SEEKINS called the Senate Judiciary Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:53 p.m. Present were Senators
Ogan and French. He announced that SB 30 was up for
consideration.
SENATOR DYSON, sponsor of SB 30, explained that since the 70s,
Alaska physicians who perform abortions are required by
regulation to inform their patients about the medical
implications and possible emotional and physical consequences of
the procedure. SB 30 puts that in statute and provides the
option for a doctor to use standardized information presented by
means of a pamphlet on the Internet. He said that he had no
knowledge that present practitioners weren't informing their
patients, but this would just make it easier for them to do that
and give them some immunity from prosecution for not doing it.
Making the information available on the Internet allows the
Department of Health and Social Services to update service
providers and support organizations and to translate that
information into other languages, including Alaska's Native
languages, easily.
SENATOR OGAN moved to adopt CSSB 30(JUD), version \V. There was
no objection and it was so ordered.
CHAIR SEEKINS said they would hold CSSB 30(JUD) until later.
CSSB 30(JUD)-ABORTION: INFORMED CONSENT; INFORMATION
CHAIR SEEKINS announced CSSB 30(JUD) to be back up for
consideration.
MS. DEBBIE JOSLIN, Delta Junction resident, urged them to pass
the bill. When she was advised to have an abortion, she was not
given all the facts that should have been made available to her.
MS. LINDA BOWDRE, Delta Junction resident, supported SB 30
saying that not everyone knows about medical procedures.
MS. RUTH ABBOTT, Delta Junction resident, supported SB 30 saying
that it is about empowering women and respecting their
intelligence enough to give them the tools necessary to make an
educated choice.
MS. TIANA SHAWVER, Delta Junction resident, said that she didn't
want to have children, but that she couldn't live with the guilt
and depression that would probably follow if she got pregnant
and had an abortion. She supported SB 30 so that women could
make informed decisions.
MS. ANNE HARRISON, State Board of Planned Parenthood, opposed SB
30, because it is unnecessary. Since the 70s, health
professionals have counseled women about options, resources and
ramifications regarding any pregnancy, planned or unplanned. She
has counseled thousands of women. They do have a pro-choice
stand, but that is not to be understood as pro-abortion. She
felt the intent of SB 30 was to dissuade a woman from
terminating a pregnancy. She said that there is testimony,
possibly from hearsay, that many woman who have had abortions
are depressed and taking medication, but many women are
depressed and take medication and have never had an abortion to
feel such guilt over.
3:20 p.m.
CHAIR SEEKINS asked if she was saying that all health
professionals now provide the information that this bill would
require.
MS. HARRISON responded that she thought this bill had a strong
bias. "It is meant to shame and instill guilt. It is not meant
to inform."
She thought this information was already presented by those in
family planning clinics and obstetrician's offices (not general
practitioners).
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked her to point to the areas in the bill
that she thought were meant to shame a woman.
MS. HARRISON replied that she didn't have the bill in front of
her at this time.
SENATOR THERRIAULT said he was supportive of the bill, but if
she could pinpoint specific areas, he would work on language to
make it better. He said the bill included information about
letting a woman know that a father is liable for the support of
the child if it's taken to term.
CHAIR SEEKINS thanked everyone for their comments and said he
would hold the bill.
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