Calendar No. 157
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 748
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 11, 2005
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
AN ACT
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
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
`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
`(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.
`(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
`2432. Child interstate abortion notification.
`Sec. 2432. Child interstate abortion notification
`(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:
--2431
--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.
Passed the House of Representatives April 27, 2005.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 157
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H.R. 748
AN ACT
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.
July 11, 2005
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
END
