Posted on 02/20/2005 7:44:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge
In California, a person under the age of 18 cannot get a body piercing, tattoo or get married without parental consent. Yet according to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, public schools are not required to inform parents if their child leaves campus to receive certain confidential medical services that include an abortion, AIDS treatment and psychological analysis. Although he has previously claimed the law is ambiguous, he recently indicated that in his opinion; parents do not have the right to be notified if their children receive these services.
As a parent of 3 children and myself a product of the public school system, I have an acute sense about how important it is for parents to be aware of most, if not everything their children are up to. This becomes even more important when considering the issues of abortion and mental counseling. The after-effects of these processes require that parents understand what their children have been going through in order to head off any complications. Drug counseling, for instance, has the possible effect of creating depression and a deficiency of self-worth in the teen as they battle to stay off drugs. Abortion can result in Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS), a form of post traumatic stress which can result in substance abuse and potentially suicide.
Abortion could be fatal to a teen when those in charge of the teen are not aware that the abortion occurred. Furthermore there are many alternatives to abortion that must be discussed with the teen before the procedure is performed. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers rarely educate girls about abortion alternatives or its potential complications. If Bill Lockyer and those of his opinion have their way, you, the parent will not be allowed to administrator parenting to your child in these events.
But the really disturbing part about all of this is the double standard that Attorney General Lockyer’s opinion presents. The San Jose Unified School District, one of the largest in the state, recently sent letters to 3,715 parents who excused their children from school for various reasons including orthodontist appointments. The letters warn parents that they must cease excusing their children from school or face visits from Child Protective Services or even lawsuits from the district attorneys office. But apparently, a child excusing herself for a surgical procedure without her parents‚ knowledge is a-okay.
This whole mess is sending conflicting signals to California students and their parents. Any reasonable person can see that knowledge of a child’s activities is directly related to a parent’s ability to insure their child is getting every possible benefit from the public school system. For years, the educrats up in Sacramento have assailed any attempts to wrestle control of the public school bureaucracy away from them. One process they have used to hold that power is to limit how much parents know about their student’s school life.
The Schwarzenegger administration has indicated a desire to hold a special election in 2005. California needs to choose a successor to popular Democrat Senator Robert Matsui, and a plethora of pending initiatives are far too numerous to relegate them all to the 2006 regular elections. Enter Parental Notification and the opportunity to have the voters in the state weigh in on the issue.
This special election, should this issue be represented on the ballot, presents a great opportunity for both the supporters and proponents of mandatory parental notification to be heard. Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers stand against Parental Notification because it weakens the ability for a teen to get an abortion by allowing a concerned parent to weigh in on the matter. And the educational establishment is against parents having consent or notification beyond what is already given them. As parents, it is imperative that we stand up for our rights to be notified of what our children are up to, regardless of the powerful forces that work against this endeavor.
This from a relatively new father at the age of 60, and from someone who feels he knows better than California parents as to what is best for their children.
Don't put your kid in a public school.
1067. (SA04RF0030, Amdt. #1-S) [REVISED]
Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 11/15/04 Circulation Deadline: 04/14/05
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponents: Paul E. Laubacher and Barbara R. Laubacher (916) 381-5222
1071. (SA04RF0034)
Waiting Period and Parental Notification Prior to Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 01/19/05 Circulation Deadline: 06/20/05
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponents: Kristen Edwards and Rosemarie Avila, c/o Mark Bucher, Esq. (714) 573-2201
Amends California Constitution's right to privacy by prohibiting an abortion on an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent or legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver of notice. Permits judicial waiver of notice based on clear and convincing evidence that minor is sufficiently mature and well-informed to decide whether to have an abortion or that parental notification is not in the minor's best interests. Authorizes parent or guardian to obtain actual damages, or statutory damages of $10,000, for violation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net costs of this measure to Medi-Cal and other programs are unknown, but are probably not significant in the context of the total expenditures for these programs.
--- from one year ago ---
1009. (SA03RF0038).
Parental Notification Prior to Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 11/12/03 Circulation Deadline: 04/12/04
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponents: Rosemarie Avila and Mary Vogelzang, c/o Tom Hiltachk, (916) 442-7757
Amends Constitution to provide that, except for medical emergency or when waiver of notification has been obtained pursuant to state law, no abortion shall be performed upon an unemancipated minor until the physician notifies minor's parent or legal guardian. Statute provides definitions and authorizes monetary penalty and damages for violation. Statute permits minor to confidentially petition juvenile court for notification waiver based upon clear and convincing evidence of sufficient maturity, physical or sexual abuse by parent or guardian, or that notification is not in minor's best interests. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net costs of this measure to Medi-Cal and other programs are unknown, but are probably not significant in the contest of the total expenditures for these programs.
1018. (SA03RF0050)
Termination of Minor's Pregnancy. Medical Emergency. Parental Notification or Judicial Waiver. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary Date: 12/17/03 Circulation Deadline: 05/17/04
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponents: Rosemarie I. Avila and Mary L. Vogelzang (714) 619-6868
Amends Constitution to provide that, except for medical emergency, or when waiver of notification has been obtained pursuant to state law, no abortion shall be performed upon an unemancipated minor until the physician notifies minor's parent or legal guardian. Statute provides definitions and authorizes monetary penalty and damages for violation. Statute permits minor to confidentially petition juvenile court for notification waiver based upon evidence of sufficient maturity, physical or sexual abuse by parent or guardian, or that notification is not in minor's best interests. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net costs of this measure to Medi-Cal and other programs are unknown, but are probably not significant in the context of the total expenditures for these programs.
California initiatives in circulation as of February 3, 2004
--- three months later ---
1036. (SA03RF0064, Amdt. #1-S)
Minor's Pregnancy. Waiting Period and Parental Notification or Waiver Before Abortion. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 02/20/04 Circulation Deadline: 07/19/04
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponents: Paul E. Laubacher and Barbara R. Laubacher (916) 381-5222
Amends Constitution to provide that no abortion shall be performed upon an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent or legal guardian, or until 24 hours after parent/guardian waives notification in a writing that is signed, notarized and dated. Provides exception for medical emergency and permits judicial waiver based upon clear and convincing evidence of minor's sufficient maturity; physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by parent/guardian; or where notification not in minor's best interests. Authorizes monetary damages and attorney's fees for violation. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: The net costs of this measure to Medi-Cal and other programs are unknown, but are probably not significant in the context of the total expenditures for these programs.
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