Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

Parental Notice for Out-of-State Minors

If enacted, this bill would require a physician who performs or induces an abortion on a minor who lives in a different State to give a parent at least 24 hours' actual notice before the procedure. If a parent cannot be reached after reasonable effort, the physician would instead send certified mail and the notice would be treated as delivered 48 hours after the next mail-delivery day. Five exceptions apply: compliance with the performing State's parental law; a court waiver from the minor's State of residence; a signed statement from the minor alleging parental sexual, neglect, or physical abuse with prior child-protection notice; an abortion needed to save the minor's life (with written notice to the parent within 24 hours after the abortion); or the minor is accompanied by someone who shows documentation that they are the parent. A physician who knowingly breaks the rule could be fined or jailed for up to 1 year, and any parent harmed could sue, except when the parent committed incest. These rules would take effect 45 days after enactment.