Calling the legislation necessary to "protect vulnerable teens by allowing them to talk with a responsible, caring adult about a decision to have an abortion," the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today urged the Illinois House Human Services Committee to approve House Bill 317, the Adolescent Health Care Safety Act. The legislation, introduced by Representative John Fritchey, shifts the debate over mandatory parental notice laws to focus on the health and well-being of vulnerable young women facing an unwanted pregnancy. Under the Adolescent Health Care Safety Act, a young woman must give notice of her decision to have an abortion to a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, grandparent, adult sibling, step-sibling, aunt or uncle, or member of the clergy - all adults in whom she might be comfortable confiding this intimate information. The legislation was scheduled for a hearing before the House Human Services Committee this morning.

"We support this legislation because it helps to protect vulnerable teens by allowing them to talk with a responsible, caring adult about a decision to have an abortion - rather than forcing parental notice," said Lorie Chaiten, Director of the ACLU of Illinois Reproductive Rights Project. "The fact is that most young women facing an unintended pregnancy talk with a parent or another adult about available options."

"The Adolescent Health Care Safety Act, unlike previous legislation, provides appropriate options for a young woman who fear abuse, forced homelessness or parental rejection because of an unintended pregnancy," added Chaiten.

The Adolescent Health Care Safety Act repeals Illinois' 1995 Parental Notice of Abortion, legislation that has been enjoined from enforcement by a federal court since its passage. Earlier this month, a federal district court judge in Chicago refused to lift the injunction after the Illinois Supreme Court issued rules for the "judicial bypass" required in the statute. U.S. District Court Judge David Coar rejected the State's efforts noting that courts across Illinois had not had time to implement these rules.

Representative Fritchey's legislation creates an alternative procedure to the ineffective and unworkable judicial bypass. The Act details "all options counseling" designed to ensure that a young woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy is carefully considered, thoroughly evaluated and properly informed.

"Parental notice laws force the most vulnerable teens into the court system,� added the ACLU's Chaiten. "This legislation creates specific counseling that better serves a young woman than going to court."

Download the ACLU fact sheet on this legislation