
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 1, 1991                   TAG: 9102010365
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

ABORTION BILL DIES IN SENATE PANEL

A bill requiring a minor to tell an adult before seeking an abortion was killed by a Senate committee Thursday. A House of Delegates panel deadlocked on a similar measure.

Del. Emmett Hanger's bill remains on the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee docket. Several motions to either kill the bill or send it to the House floor died on 10-10 votes, leaving Hanger's proposal in limbo.

Hanger, R-Augusta, said "political posturing on the abortion issue" kept his legislation bottled up in the health committee, which last year approved the bill. It cleared the House of Delegates easily but died in the Senate Education and Health Committee.

"Some polling has indicated that the pro-choice movement is gaining strength, and politicians are concerned about anything that would make them appear to be against choice," Hanger said.

All 140 General Assembly members are up for re-election in November.

The Senate Education and Health Committee killed another abortion notification bill 11-3 with little discussion.

Sen. Frank Nolen's bill would have required that a minor seeking an abortion tell any adult she sees frequently, such as a parent, other relative, teacher or friend.

"It does not restrict abortions in any way," said Nolen, D-Augusta.

Hanger's bill would require notification of a custodial parent before an unmarried girl younger than 18 could obtain an abortion.

Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, opposed a provision waiving the notification requirement if the physician determines that the pregnant minor has been abused by her parents.

"This puts the physician in the untenable position of having to be an investigator" to determine if the minor is telling the truth, Jones said.

Hanger has a similar bill pending in the House Courts of Justice Committee which would allow a minor to ask a judge to waive the notification requirement if the child fears reprisals from her parents. An amendment to tack the same "judicial bypass" provision onto the bill in the health committee failed.

by CNB