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.