‘Abortions and the Poor’

As a state legislator who has introduced parental consent legislation, I strongly disagree with your editorial (April 20), “Abortions and the Poor,” which concludes that “religious and other groups” are the primary supporters of parental consent legislation.

Thousands of parents throughout California who have written to me and other legislators in support of parental consent legislation would disagree with your editorial statements. In addition, a statewide survey conducted by Decision Making Information Inc. has found that 80% of the voting public support parental consent in some fashion.

It is certainly an absurdity of California law that our minor children need parental consent for medical treatment and school field trips but not to obtain an abortion. Current California law, as interpreted by the state attorney general, now permits the school to dismiss a child from regularly scheduled class time to obtain an abortion without the knowledge or consent of the parents, and school officials are under no duty to notify the home. If medical complications later arise as a consequence of the abortion, a minor child may not be readmitted for additional medical treatment without parental consent and the parents remain liable for the costs incurred.

This year I have introduced Senate Bill 11 that would require parental consent in the case of abortion for minor children. Last year the same bill I authored passed the Senate and obtained the governor’s support.

It is time for direction to be placed back where the moral, legal, and financial responsibility rests--with the parents. It is also reasonable to assume that many Californians who don’t oppose abortion support the right of parents to be involved in their minor children’s abortions.

JOSEPH B. MONTOYA

State Senator, 26th District

Whittier