Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/26/2009 05:00 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 | |
HB 35 - NOTICE & CONSENT FOR MINOR'S ABORTION Public Testimony The following overview was taken in log note format. Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 26th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814. After the 26th Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808. 5:15:52 PM TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION 5:15:56 PM TYLER PRESTON, Expressed opposition to HB 35. He JUNEAU stressed the importance of testified via communication within families. He teleconference suggested spending more money on prevention. 5:19:39 PM JEANNETTE Spoke against HB 35. She referenced the LACEY DUNN, 2007 Supreme Court ruling and mentioned JUNEAU excessive legal costs. She suggested testified via providing education and funding teleconference prevention. 5:21:56 PM BRITTENY Spoke in opposition to the bill based CIONI, JUNEAU on the economic ramifications. She testified via suggested putting funding toward teleconference prevention. Representative Voiced appreciation for the previous Gara speakers' testimonies. 5:26:37 PM ROSANNE Testified in favor of HB 35. She shared CURRAN, medical procedures that require CORDOVA parental consent and stressed parental testified via rights. teleconference 5:28:23 PM JENNIFER Spoke in support of HB 35. She listed GRIMWOOD, ways parents support their children. CORDOVA testified via teleconference 5:30:34 PM DR. JAN Said he was available to answer WHITEFIELS, questions. ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference Representative Referred to page 2, lines 23 - 30, Gara regarding when a doctor would be allowed to perform an abortion in a medical emergency. In that case, parental consent is not required. He questioned the language in (B), "a serious risk of medical instability caused by a substantial and irreversible impairment of a bodily function". Dr. Whitefiels Explained that a physician would not necessarily know if a condition is reversible or not. He thought the problem was the wording "clinical judgment", which could be challenged in court and result in a criminal offense. He thought the words resulted in a "grey area" and a "chilling nature". He thought it had potential to harm a pregnant minor. Representative Concluded that there would be a risk of Gara not performing an abortion and permanently damaging the minor. He asked under what type of conditions that might happen. Dr. Whitefiels Gave some examples of potential dangerous medical situations such as toxemia and pre-eclampsia. Representative Questioned the meaning of line 29. Gara Dr. Whitefiels Replied that the language "medical instability caused by" was not clear to him and was very subjective. Representative Suggested on line 27, "can perform an Gara abortion if necessary to avert the minor's death or to avert as substantial risk of serious harm to the minor." Dr. Whitefiels Thought it would clarify the language, but it was still subjective. Representative Asked Dr. Whitefiels if he had ever Kelly performed an abortion to save the mother's life or to avoid substantial impairment to a bodily function. Dr. Whitefiels Said he had. 5:39:39 PM Representative Questioned the 48-hour wait. He Gara wondered if it applied to any other medical procedure. Dr. Whitefiels did not know of any others. 5:40:30 PM Representative Asked if Dr. Whitefiels had ever Kelly performed an elective abortion. Dr. Whitefiels Reported that he had. Representative Inquired about Dr. Whitefiels' use of Kelly the word "chilling". Dr. Whitefiels Opined that the intent of the bill is for the betterment of the pregnant minor. He explained his version of "chilling nature". 5:41:59 PM Representative Asked if the category "life Kelly threatening" was rare. Dr. Whitefiels Related that it was not common. 5:42:36 PM Representative Referenced page 2, lines 28-30. He Gara wondered if the language was left unchanged, whether there was a concern of permanent bodily damage to young women. Dr. Whitefiels Commented that it was a legitimate concern, although uncommon. 5:43:30 PM SANDY BARETTE, Testified in favor of HB 35. She WASILLA thought parents should have ultimate testified via authority. teleconference 5:46:49 PM BARBARA Spoke against HB 35 due to the expense REILLY, generated by the bill. She opposed ANCHORAGE legislating morality. She shared a testified via personal story. teleconference 5:50:27 PM Representative Noted that he has nine foster children. Foster 5:50:49 PM CHRISSA Spoke in support of HB 35. She talked PHILLIPS, about protecting parental rights. ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference 5:53:28 PM STEVE BRADLEY, Testified in opposition to HB 35. He ANCHORAGE encouraged the committee to make the testified via best decision based upon fact. teleconference 5:54:19 PM RAYMOND Spoke in support of HB 35. He spoke of RZESZUT, the parental right to consent. ANCHOURAGE testified via teleconference 5:57:02 PM AMANDA Testified in opposition to HB 35. She METIVIER, mentioned the trouble that children in FOSTER CARE foster care would have in working ALASKA, within the confines of the bill. ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference 5:58:57 PM Representative Expressed concern with the possibility Gara that a person who may have no relationship or knowledge of the minor could be making this decision for the minor. 6:00:27 PM Representative Spoke of a letter sent by a testifier. Foster He wanted to point out that committee members should be present until the testimonies are concluded. 6:01:22 PM JAN DELAND, Voiced support for HB 35. She stated SELF, that statistically breast cancer rates ANCHORAGE are higher in women who had abortions testified via at a young age. She also cited birth teleconference control pills as a cause of breast cancer in women. She elaborated on the ills and possible health complications of abortion. She felt that the act of abortion was "against nature". 6:06:15 PM CHRISTIAN Spoke in support of HB 35. He felt that RAWALT, SELF, the Supreme Court had overstepped ANCHORAGE proper legislative channels in its testified via previous ruling. He mentioned the teleconference health risks associated with abortion. 6:09:32 PM MARY PENICK, Spoke in support of HB 35. She felt SELF, that the decision to have an abortion FAIRBANKS should be shared with the parents of testified via the teen. She felt that adoption was a teleconference viable option. 6:12:10 PM KATHERINE Spoke in support of HB 35. She shared MOWERY, SELF, that she had been told to abort her FAIRBANKS son. She felt that parents know what is testified via best for their children. teleconference 6:13:39 PM LAURA HORNING, Testified in support of HB 35. She SELF, MAT-SU spoke of parental responsibilities. testified via teleconference 6:15:56 PM SARAH CASE, Testified in favor of HB 35. She FAIRBANKS shared a personal story. She did not testified via want abusers to get away with their teleconference crimes. 6:18:30 PM DOUG MCKINNIS, Urged support for HB 35. He maintained MAT-SU that parents should have consent. testified via teleconference 6:22:34 PM FRANCESCA Shared a personal story. She testified RIDENOUR, in favor of HB 35. She spoke of FAIRBANKS parental duties. testified via teleconference 6:25:20 PM SCHAEFFER COX, Testified in favor of HB 35. He thought FAIRBANKS the issues related to the pregnancy testified via should be examined. He was not in teleconference favor of education as a means of prevention. 6:29:23 PM LINDA SHEA, Spoke of loss of parental rights. She FAIRBANKS testified in favor of the bill. She testified via shared a personal story. teleconference 6:31:44 PM RUTH EWIG, Noted she was pro-family. She testified FAIRBANKS in favor of HB 35. testified via teleconference 6:34:54 PM LATANYA Spoke from a rural Native perspective. SEMONES, She urged opposition to the bill. She FAIRBANKS emphasized the value of prevention testified via education. teleconference 6:36:35 PM KEN THESING, Testified in support of HB 35. He FAIRBANKS termed the family "the sovereign testified via nation". teleconference 6:40:47 PM JANINE Urged support for HB 35. She spoke of MCCREADY, the emotional complexities of abortion. FAIRBANKS testified via teleconference 6:43:50 PM CAROL Testified in support of HB 35. She WILKINSON, TOK discussed the emotional trauma testified via associated with abortions. She thought teleconference that the minor would benefit from the support of her parents. 6:44:20 PM CHRISTINE Spoke in support of HB 35. She stated GRANGAARD, TOK that she found the language in the bill testified via generous and accommodating toward teleconference minors. 6:46:15 PM SIDNEY Expressed support for HB 35. He GLASSCOCK, stressed parental rights. ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference 6:48:33 PM CAROL Voiced support for HB 35. She believed GLASSCOCK, that a minor is not a woman and should ANCHORAGE have parental consent to have an testified via abortion. teleconference 6:50:25 PM ANMEI Testified in opposition to HB 35. She GOLDSMITH, maintained that if the bill passes, it ANCHORAGE would be overruled. She wondered how to testified via involve the fathers of the unborn. teleconference Co-Chair Pointed out that the sponsor suggested Stoltze involving the fathers. 6:53:01 PM PAIGE HODSON, Spoke in opposition to HB 35. She ANCHORAGE talked of the expense involved with testified via this legislation. She spoke of the teleconference burden to the courts and to foster care. She emphasized the need for prevention. 6:57:51 PM BRITTANY Testified against HB 35. She spoke of GOODNIGHT, the expenses related to the bill. She ANCHORAGE voiced concern with the judicial testified via bypass. teleconference 7:00:59 PM MOLLY BEICH, Spoke in support of HB 35. She shared a ANCHORAGE personal story. testified via teleconference 7:03:40 PM MONIQUE Spoke in opposition to HB 35. She felt KARAGANIS, MD, that teens who could not get an POLAR abortion in-state would seek out second PEDIATRICS, trimester abortions out-of-state. ANCHORAGE testified via teleconference 7:06:29 PM TIFFANY D. Expressed opposition for HB 35. She MCCLAIN, SELF stressed that the bill endangered the ANCHORAGE well being of teenage girls in Alaska. testified via She spoke in support of comprehensive teleconference sexual education throughout the state. 7:08:48 PM BOB HAWKINS, Voiced support for HB 35. He mentioned SELF, that some of these pregnancies may be FAIRBANKS as a result of statutory rape. He felt testified via that the bill upheld family values. He teleconference expressed concern that older men were preying on underage minors. He voiced that the issue was one of common sense. 7:12:38 PM TRISHA HULSE, Expressed opposition to HB 35. She SELF, stresses that not all minors have ANCHORAGE caring adults to help then navigate testified via through the choices abortion presents. teleconference She felt that children in the system would suffer most. 7:14:22 PM KATE FINN, Testified in opposition to HB 35. She SELF, ANCHOR shared stories of supportive families. POINT She countered that sometimes the family testified via members of the minor are more harmful teleconference than helpful. She stressed that sometimes the support the child needs cannot be found within the family alone. 7:19:21 PM JUDITH MOSES, Spoke in opposition to HB 35. She felt SELF, that families with an open dialogue do FAIRBANKS not need this bill. She felt that the testified via court process the bill presents could teleconference be intimidating to minors. 7:20:47 PM STEFANIE Testified in opposition to HB 35. She MARTIN, SELF, expressed concern with the time limits ANCHORAGE presented in the bill. testified via teleconference 7:22:24 PM STEFANIE Expressed opposition to HB 35. She LATZEL, SELF, stressed that parents are not always YAKUTAT available to help with decision making testified via and that not all families are teleconference traditional families. 7:23:32 PM DEVON Spoke in opposition of HB 35. Stressed SCHROEDER, that Planned Parenthood was not SELF, availably primarily for abortions but ANCHORAGE helped in providing affordable health testified via care. She felt that choices should teleconference start at home, but that young women should be allowed to make their own choices. 7:26:35 PM BAMIRSE Expressed opposition for HB 35. She PAPRANIKU, expressed concern for minors without SELF, strong family support to begin with. ANCHORAGE She advocated for sex education. testified via teleconference 7:29:42 PM CHRIS Spoke of his work as a mental health REYNOLDS, therapist. He testified in opposition ANCHORAGE to HB 35. He discussed the difference testified via between parental notification and teleconference parental consent. He spoke of his experience as a foster parent of at- risk children. 7:33:16 PM MEGAN MALONE, Testified against HB 35. She spoke of ANCHORAGE the costs involved when a teen is testified via forced to have a child. teleconference 7:35:45 PM JENNIFER Spoke in favor of HB 35. She pointed JOHNSON, out that teen pregnancy is on the rise FAIRBANKS in spite of sex education. testified via teleconference 7:37:36 PM ERICA Voiced opposition to HB 35. She shared THOMPSON, a personal experience. She listed the KODIAK difficulties of being a teen parent. testified via teleconference 7:41:24 PM JOELLE HALL, Testified in opposition to HB 35. She PETERS CREEK detailed her role as a parent and testified via emphasized the right of her daughter to teleconference make her own choices about reproduction. She argued that there is no correlation between abortion and any other medical procedure. 7:45:21 PM ROBERT Spoke in opposition to HB 35. The bill SOTHERLIN, is not needed in healthy homes. He ANCHORAGE supported sex education. testified via teleconference 7:47:22 PM TANYA PLETZER, Testified in support of HB 35. She RENO, NEVADA shared a personal story. testified via teleconference 7:56:44 PM Representative Noted a memo from March 26, 2009, in Gara the members' packets. # ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 PM
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