From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The bill to criminalize adults who assist a pregnant minor with getting an abortion has passed the Tennessee House of R
From Local 3 News: UPDATE: The bill to criminalize adults who assist a pregnant minor with getting an abortion has passed the Tennessee House of Representatives and is heading to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.
HB1895/SB1971 will make it a class-A misdemeanor to commit “abortion trafficking,” described as an adult helping a minor with transportation across state lines to abort a minor’s pregnancy.
Recent amendments will also criminalize adults who help minors access abortion drugs or hide an abortion from the minor’s parents or guardians.
The bill’s sponsor, state representative Jason Zachary, remains that the bill is about parental rights.
Those against the bill, like Sen. Raumesh Akbari, says it could give abusers more power over victims.
If Governor Lee signs the bill into law, it would take effect on July 1.
PREVIOUS STORY: The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would make it a crime to assist a minor to seek an abortion.
SB1971 would create liability for any adult who “recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant unemancipated minor” to receive an abortion.
A similar law was passed in Idaho, but placed on hold during a lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional.
The bill’s sponsor, state representative Jason Zachary, says the bill is about parental rights.
“In the state of Tennessee, you cannot take a child to an emergency room or any medical facility to obtain treatment without their parents’ permission if they’re under 18,” said Rep. Zachary.
Opposers of the bill pointed to reasons why parents shouldn’t be involved.
“Parents can be the child’s abuser and not safe people to disclose a pregnancy to, parents may not be the person to have physical custody of the child and it may take too long for formal custody proceedings to take place so the child’s trusted adult in their life could qualify under this statute, children may have different ideas for their future,” testified attorney, Rachel Welty.
