H.R. 748 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (`CIANA')

[paineinthearse]

This resolution is scheduled for debate Wednesday.

H.R. 748 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (Rep. Ros-Lehtinen - Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00748:@@@L&summ2=m

(related to S8 - S.8
Title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.
Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John (introduced 1/24/2005) Cosponsors (37)
Related Bills: H.R.748, S.396, S.403

=================================

109TH CONGRESS

REPORT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session

109-51
CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION ACT


APRIL 21, 2005- Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. SENSENBRENNER, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS





The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 748) to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent the transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS Page
The Amendment 2
Purpose and Summary 4
Background and Need for the Legislation 7
Hearings 45
Committee Consideration 45
Vote of the Committee 45
Committee Oversight Findings 50
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures 51
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate 51
Performance Goals and Objectives 52
Constitutional Authority Statement 52
Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion 52
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported 54
Markup Transcript 58
Dissenting Views 121



THE AMENDMENT

The amendment is as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act'.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION.

Title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 117 the following:

`CHAPTER 117A--TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION
`Sec.
`2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion.



`Sec. 2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion

`(a) Offense-

`(1) GENERALLY- Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever knowingly transports a minor across a State line, with the intent that such minor obtain an abortion, and thereby in fact abridges the right of a parent under a law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, in force in the State where the minor resides, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

`(2) DEFINITION- For the purposes of this subsection, an abridgement of the right of a parent occurs if an abortion is performed or induced on the minor, in a State other than the State where the minor resides, without the parental consent or notification, or the judicial authorization, that would have been required by that law had the abortion been performed in the State where the minor resides.

`(b) Exceptions-

`(1) The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

`(2) A minor transported in violation of this section, and any parent of that minor, may not be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this section, a conspiracy to violate this section, or an offense under section 2 or 3 based on a violation of this section.

`(c) Affirmative Defense- It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for an offense, or to a civil action, based on a violation of this section that the defendant--

`(1) reasonably believed, based on information the defendant obtained directly from a parent of the minor, that before the minor obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification took place that would have been required by the law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, had the abortion been performed in the State where the minor resides; or

`(2) was presented with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that a court in the minor's State of residence waived any parental notification required by the laws of that State, or otherwise authorized that the minor be allowed to procure an abortion.

`(d) Civil Action- Any parent who suffers harm from a violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.

`(e) Definitions- For the purposes of this section--

`(1) the term `abortion' means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device intentionally to terminate the pregnancy of a female known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead unborn child who died as the result of a spontaneous abortion, accidental trauma or a criminal assault on the pregnant female or her unborn child;

`(2) the term a `law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision' means a law--

`(A) requiring, before an abortion is performed on a minor, either--

`(i) the notification to, or consent of, a parent of that minor; or

`(ii) proceedings in a State court; and

`(B) that does not provide as an alternative to the requirements described in subparagraph (A) notification to or consent of any person or entity who is not described in that subparagraph;

`(3) the term `minor' means an individual who is not older than the maximum age requiring parental notification or consent, or proceedings in a State court, under the law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision;

`(4) the term `parent' means--

`(A) a parent or guardian;

`(B) a legal custodian; or

`(C) a person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides, who is designated by the law requiring parental involvement in the minor's abortion decision as a person to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required; and

`(5) the term `State' includes the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States.'.

SEC. 3. CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION.

Title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 117A the following:

`CHAPTER 117B--CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION
`Sec.
`2432. Child interstate abortion notification.



`Sec. 2432. Child interstate abortion notification

`(a) Offense-

`(1) GENERALLY- A physician who knowingly performs or induces an abortion on a minor in violation of the requirements of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

`(2) PARENTAL NOTIFICATION- A physician who performs or induces an abortion on a minor who is a resident of a State other than the State in which the abortion is performed must provide at least 24 hours actual notice to a parent of the minor before performing the abortion. If actual notice to such parent is not possible after a reasonable effort has been made, 24 hours constructive notice must be given to a parent.

`(b) Exceptions- The notification requirement of subsection (a)(2) does not apply if--

`(1) the abortion is performed or induced in a State that has a law in force requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision and the physician complies with the requirements of that law;

`(2) the physician is presented with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that a court in the minor's State of residence has waived any parental notification required by the laws of that State, or has otherwise authorized that the minor be allowed to procure an abortion;

`(3) the minor declares in a signed written statement that she is the victim of sexual abuse, neglect, or physical abuse by a parent, and, before an abortion is performed on the minor, the physician notifies the authorities specified to receive reports of child abuse or neglect by the law of the State in which the minor resides of the known or suspected abuse or neglect; or

`(4) the abortion is necessary to save the life of the minor because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

`(c) Civil Action- Any parent who suffers harm from a violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.

`(d) Definitions- For the purposes of this section--

`(1) the term `abortion' means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device intentionally to terminate the pregnancy of a female known to be pregnant with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead unborn child who died as the result of a spontaneous abortion, accidental trauma, or a criminal assault on the pregnant female or her unborn child;

`(2) the term `actual notice' means the giving of written notice directly, in person;

`(3) the term `constructive notice' means notice that is given by certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery to the last known address of the person being notified, with delivery deemed to have occurred 48 hours following noon on the next day subsequent to mailing on which regular mail delivery takes place, days on which mail is not delivered excluded;

`(4) the term a `law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision' means a law--

`(A) requiring, before an abortion is performed on a minor, either--

`(i) the notification to, or consent of, a parent of that minor; or

`(ii) proceedings in a State court;

`(B) that does not provide as an alternative to the requirements described in subparagraph (A) notification to or consent of any person or entity who is not described in that subparagraph;

`(5) the term `minor' means an individual who is not older than 18 years and who is not emancipated under State law;

`(6) the term `parent' means--

`(A) a parent or guardian;

`(B) a legal custodian; or

`(C) a person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides;

as determined by State law;

`(7) the term `physician' means a doctor of medicine legally authorized to practice medicine by the State in which such doctor practices medicine, or any other person legally empowered under State law to perform an abortion; and

`(8) the term `State' includes the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States.'.

SEC. 4. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.

The table of chapters at the beginning of part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 117 the following new items:
`117A. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion 2431
`117B. Child interstate abortion notification 2432'.



SEC. 5. SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) 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.

(b) The provisions of this Act shall take effect upon enactment.

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 748, the `Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act' (`CIANA'), has two primary purposes. The first is to protect the health and safety of young girls by preventing valid and constitutional state parental involvement laws from being circumvented. The second is to protect the health and safety of young girls by protecting the rights of parents to be involved in the medical decisions of their minor daughters when such decisions involve interstate abortions. To achieve these purposes, CIANA contains two sections, each of which creates a new Federal crime subject to a $100,000 fine, or 1 year in jail, or both. 1

more......

[rodeodance]

1. SENSENBRENNER -Again!!---another notch in the demise of Roe v.

Wade.

[rodeodance]

2. can parents take girls across state lines?--I am confused

...PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 748, the `Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act' (`CIANA'), has two primary purposes. The first is to protect the health and safety of young girls by preventing valid and constitutional state parental involvement laws from being circumvented. The second is to protect the health and safety of young girls by protecting the rights of parents to be involved in the medical decisions of their minor daughters when such decisions involve interstate abortions. To achieve these purposes, CIANA contains two sections, each of which creates a new Federal crime subject to a $100,000 fine, or 1 year in jail, or both. 1

[NVMojo]

3. Get these fecking conservatives out of the underpants of this nation!!!!

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Right Wing Sneak Attack Against Extended Family Continues

The fact that these so-called "pro-family" "conservatives" have left in provisions criminalizing the efforts of other family members to aid minors needing abortions shows that the right-wing flim-flam artists are still trying to cover up the fact that the Radical Right still is waging war against the extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

Anybody claiming that this pernicious piece of legislation is "pro-family" is either deluded or is a deliberate liar.

[saltpoint]

5. This bill is a police act.

I can't stand legislation like this.

[iverglas]

6. the true colours

The fact that this bill refers, throughout, to a "female" tells me all I need to know about anyone who supports it.

In the laws of Canada, where a reference to the sex of an individual is relevant and necessary and the individual is a woman or girl, the expression "female person" is used:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=+site%3Awww.canlii.org+%22female+person%22&meta=

I recommend the practice to all legislators who don't want to look like pigs.

Of course, the use, throughout, of the (oxy)moronic expression "unborn child" makes it all pretty plain, too.

Sometimes blind pigs find truffles, and even pigs in positions of power occasionally do something admirable. But all I'm seeing here is pigs being pigs.