HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 30(JUD) An Act relating to information and services available to pregnant women and other persons; ensuring informed consent before an abortion may be performed; and providing exceptions to informed consent in certain cases. SENATOR FRED DYSON, SPONSOR, explained that the Department of Health & Social Services requested that all reproductive information including abortion services be provided online. The first change made by the House Judiciary Committee required that information reviewed by obstetricians also be reviewed by the state medical board, which, Senator Dyson said, it would prefer not to do. He explained the other amendments made by House Judiciary Committee, and noted that the major change eliminated the 24-hour waiting period. Senator Dyson felt that the 24-hour waiting period would not pose a barrier to receiving the service. In response to a question by Representative Croft, Co-Chair Williams clarified that Version G is the House Judiciary Committee Substitute and Version Y is the blank Finance CS. MYRNA GARDNER, JUNEAU, spoke from written testimony (copy on file.) She felt that the underlying intentions of the bill are anti-abortion, and that it implies that women do not have a right to privacy even though Alaska's history on privacy is very clear. She asked that female constituents be considered intelligent enough to make this decision themselves without State invasion into their privacy. She asked the Committee not to vote for the bill. TAPE HFC 04 - 107, Side A  At Ease: 3:25 PM  Reconvene: 3:30 PM VICKI HALCRO, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MARKETING, PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE, VIA TELECONFERENCE, voiced opposition to SB 30. She commented that it is redundant and discriminatory. Under the Alaska Constitution, the right to choose is a fundamental right of women. The bill assumes that physicians are being negligent in not giving women the information needed for informed consent. She added that the House Judiciary Committee had removed the 24-hour waiting period, and she stated that this [waiting period] would add an undue burden on women in rural Alaska. She felt that the bill has serious constitutional issues. KAREN VOSBURG, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA RIGHT TO LIFE, ANCHORAGE, voiced support for the legislation. She spoke to the description of the unborn baby and argued that women need to know "what is being removed during an abortion." She asserted that nearly 80% of women surveyed by the Elliott Institute believe that they were denied information or actively misinformed by their counselors prior to their abortion. She continued, stating that women were not given a full explanation of the possible risks or complications. Abortion counseling is an opportunity to discuss birth control, and she spoke to censoring information. Ms. Vosburg urged that the legislation be passed from Committee. Co-Chair Williams requested that the Department of Law be present to discuss these issues. SB 30 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.