Carbondale Reporter

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has vowed "to not sit silently" as her Democratic colleagues are working to overturn a law that requires parents of children ages 17 or younger to be informed at least 48 prior to the child undergoing an abortion. 

Bryant believes their push to eliminate parental notification leaves parents completely out of the equation when it comes to helping children make an important decision. 

"Parental notification is in place because adolescents are not mentally or emotionally prepared to fully grasp or understand the consequences of these actions," Bryant said during a news conference on Oct. 19. "I urge my Democrat colleagues not to take away a child's parental foundation at a time when a child may need their parent the most." 

Those pushing for the change have argued that Illinois needs to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995, especially after Texas lawmakers recently passed an abortion ban after six weeks, according to ABC7 Chicago. State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) sponsored the repeal in the House. Moeller told the Associated Press that Illinois is "surrounded" by states with strict abortion laws and she expects more will pass legislation similar to the one in Texas. 

"I know that those who seek to remove parents from this process will argue that the purpose of repealing parental notification is to protect abused girls from having to confront or inform their abuser of their actions," Bryant said. "We're literally punishing good, supportive parents who want nothing more than to be there for their young daughter during the hardest time of their life all under the guise of protecting the abused."

State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) has introduced similar legislation to repeal the Parental Notice Act in the state senate, ABC 7 Chicago reported. 

"It will only leave young girls with mental health issues that could last a lifetime if they don't receive proper support and care that they need," Bryant said during the news conference. "We must take a stand to protect parental rights and safeguard the system in place already that allows a parent to be there for their child at an unimaginably vulnerable time."

Bryant said there are already safeguards in place that allow abused or neglected girls to receive an abortion without parental notification as long as they put it in writing with their doctor, they can also petition circuit court for a waiver.

Bryant told members of the media that since 2013, the waiver has been rejected just one time out of the 550 times it's been sought. 

She called the effort to repeal the parental notification law "an attack on the rights of Illinois parents."