West Virginia Senate Approves Tightened Abortion Notification Bill
The new bill requires minors to obtain parental consent at least 48-hours before receiving an abortion and makes violation of this requirement a felony punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison.
A day after the governor signed the “Unborn Victims of Violence Act,” the state Senate approved a bill tightening West Virginia’s laws on parental notification for minors who seek an abortion.
On Monday, Governor Joe Manchin signed a bill making acts of violence against an unborn baby a crime. Abortion-rights and anti-domestic violence groups protested the bill saying that it may be used to criminalize abortion. Supporters of the bill contended that legal abortions are exempted under the legislation. The new law will take effect on July 1.
Anti-abortion groups hailed the signing of the unborn victims bill. On Tuesday, they claimed another victory as state Senators voted 32 to 2 in favor of a bill that requires women under the age of 18 to provide parental notification at least 48 hours before undergoing an abortion.
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West Virginia already has a law requiring parental notification 24-hours before performing an abortion on a minor. Violators are given misdemeanor charges. Under the new bill, violators would face felony charges and prison sentences ranging from 3 to 10 years. The new bill also tightens restrictions on the granting of judicial waivers.
Governor Manchin stated that he supports the abortion notification bill. Similar bills requiring women under 18 to obtain parental consent before receiving an abortion are currently being considered in Idaho and Florida.
