Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1695
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1]
Introduced: 2015-03-26
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Abortion

Civil actions and liability

Domestic violence and child abuse

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Family relationships

Health personnel
Latest action: action_date: 2015-04-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-03-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Prohibits any person or organization in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or who solicits or accepts federal funds, from performing, permitting facilities to be used to perform, or assisting in the performance of an abortion on an unemancipated minor under the age of 18 unless written notification of the requested abortion is provided to the parents of the minor. Establishes an exception under which notification is not required for a parent if the physician is presented with documentation showing that a court in the minor's state of residence has waived parental notification because there is clear and convincing evidence of physical abuse of the minor by such parent.</p> <p>Requires compliance with: (1) a 96-hour waiting period after any required notice has been received by the parents, and (2) any injunction granted by a federal district court if a notified parent initiates a judicial intervention process to enjoin the abortion.</p> <p> Prescribes penalties of not more than a $100,000 fine and/or imprisonment for not more than one year for each willful violation.</p> <p>Provides an exception from parental notification requirements if a physician (other than the physician with principal responsibility for making the decision to perform the abortion) determines that: (1) a medical emergency exists that would result in the minor's death if her condition were not immediately treated, even though the treatment may result in the death of her unborn child; (2) parental notification is not possible as a result of the emergency; and (3) certifications regarding compliance with such rules and the reasons upon which such determinations are based have been entered in the minor's medical records. <p>Requires parental notification through certified mail or personal delivery. <p>Defines &quot;parent&quot; to include any legal guardian of an unemancipated minor. <p>Authorizes a notified parent to bring an action in federal court which shall enjoin the abortion: (1) until the court's judgment is final, or (2) permanently unless the court determines that granting such relief would be unlawful. <p>Prohibits this Act from being construed to preempt any state law that establishes, implements, or continues in effect greater parental notification requirements or intervention rights regarding abortion.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1695 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2015 Mr. Gohmert (for himself, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina , Mr. Neugebauer , Mr. Jordan , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Latta , Mr. Jones , and Mr. Olson ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide for parental notification and intervention in the case of an unemancipated minor seeking an abortion.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2015 . 2. Parental notification (a) In general It shall be unlawful for any person or organization in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or who solicits or accepts Federal funds to perform any abortion on an unemancipated minor under the age of 18, to permit the facilities of the person or organization to be used to perform any abortion on such a minor, or to assist in the performance of any abortion on such a minor if the person or organization has failed to comply with all of the following requirements: (1) The provision of written notification to the parents (as defined in subsection (e)) of the minor informing the parents that an abortion has been requested for the minor, except that such notification is not required for a parent if the physician is presented with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that a court of record in the minor's State of residence has waived any parental notification. The court of record shall not waive any parental notification requirement unless there is clear and convincing evidence of physical abuse of the minor by such parent. (2) Compliance with a 96-hour waiting period after notice has been received by the parents. (3) Compliance with any injunction granted under section 3 relating to the abortion. (b) Fine for violation Whoever willfully violates subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for each violation. (c) Exception Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to an unemancipated minor for whom an abortion is sought if a physician (other than the physician with principal responsibility for making the decision to perform the abortion) makes a determination that— (1) a medical emergency exists which, with reasonable medical certainty, so complicates the medical condition of the minor that the death of the minor would result from the failure to immediately treat her physical condition even though the treatment may result in the death of her unborn child; (2) parental notification is not possible as a result of the medical emergency; and (3) certifications regarding compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) have been entered in the medical records of the minor, together with the reasons upon which the determinations are based, including a statement of relevant clinical findings. (d) Parental notification requirements For purposes of this section, any parental notification provided to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) for a parent shall be— (1) delivered personally to the parent; or (2) provided through certified mail in accordance with all of the following procedures: (A) The certified mail is addressed to the parent. (B) The address used is the dwelling or usual place of abode of the parent. (C) A return receipt is requested. (D) The delivery is restricted to the parent. (e) Parent defined To include legal guardian For purposes of this Act, the term parent includes, with respect to an unemancipated minor, any legal guardian of the minor. 3. Parental intervention Any parent required to be notified pursuant to section 2 regarding an abortion of an unemancipated minor may bring an action in the Federal district court where the parent resides or where the unemancipated minor is located to enjoin the performance of the abortion. The court shall issue a temporary injunction barring the performance of the abortion until the issue has been adjudicated and the judgment is final. The court shall issue relief permanently enjoining the abortion unless the court determines that granting such relief would be unlawful. 4. Preemption Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law to the extent that such State law establishes, implements, or continues in effect greater parental notification requirements or intervention rights regarding abortion than those provided under this Act. 5. Effective date and severability (a) Effective date The provisions of this Act shall take effect upon its enactment. (b) Severability The provisions of this Act shall be severable. If any provision of this Act, or any application thereof, is found unconstitutional, that finding shall not affect any provision or application of the Act not so adjudicated.