This week, girls younger than 18 in New Hampshire will have to notify a parent or guardian before they have an abortion after a law passed last year goes into effect. The law is similar to one passed in 2003, but was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court for failing to protect a minor’s health. The new law contains the health protections. Gov. John Lynch (D-NH) vetoed the law after the House and Senate approved it, but his veto was overridden. The law requires that a girl’s parent or guardian be notified in person or by certified mail at least 48 hours before an abortion is to be performed.
According to the Union Leader, Rep. Kathy Souza (R-Manchester), the prime sponsor of the bill, said that every Thursday pro-life supporters outside of the Planned Parenthood of Northern New England office in Manchester see a lot of Massachusetts license plates. Massachusetts has a parental notification law for abortion that requires the consent of a parent or guardian, or a judge if the minor girl chooses to petition for consent instead of seeking parental consent.
“I hope (parental notification) makes a big difference for us in New Hampshire and for parents in other states,” she said. “We’re at the bottom of the list of states to have any bills related to life successfully passed.”
Source: Union Leader
