SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — An amendment repealing Illinois’ parental notification law cleared a Senate committee Tuesday night.
The measure removes the requirement that a minor’s parents be notified before she gets an abortion. Supporters say teenage girls should be able to make decisions for themselves about pregnancies.
A-C-L-U staff attorney Emily Worth testified Tuesday night that while minors can currently go to court to get around the notification requirement, it isn’t an easy process.
“There have been many who simply could not find a way to miss school to attend court during business hours without their parents being alerted. In other instances, a young person making arrangement for the court process was discovered by a parent, putting them in a dangerous situation,” Worth said.
Senator Jil Tracy questions why teens are mature enough to seek an abortion on their own, but not do other things under current law.
“Do you find it odd that we would make it illegal for a person to buy cigarettes until they’re 21, but we would repeal a parental notification act…do you see an irony in that?,” Tracy said.
Opponents also argue that parents should be a part of such a big decision.
The bill now moves to the full Senate.
