An Illinois bill requiring staffers and assistants at any facility providing abortions to act as mandated reporters in reporting suspected sexual abuse on minor girls is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday in the House Agriculture and Conservative Committee. HB 2093 focuses on protecting minor girls who may be victims of statutory rape or sexual abuse.
LifeNews.com reports that the legislation, sponsored by Downstate Rep. David Reis (R-) and co-sponsored by pro-choice State Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago), was opposed by Illinois Choice Action Team, which has since removed its opposition. In an email to supporters, LifeNews.com reports ICAT wrote about their position shift:
“In response to comments, feedback, and our own concerns regarding bill 2093, we at the Illinois Choice Action Team have removed our name from the Reproductive Health and Access Act coalition of opposing organizations for Illinois House bill 2093. We understand the bill context however, when it comes to the issue of reporting child abuse we would rather any case seen be reported and so we are withdrawing our name.”
But others in the coalition such as Planned Parenthood and ACLU remain firmly opposed to requiring abortion clinic staff to report suspected sexual abuse or statutory rape. Such requirements they say, would overload the Department of Child and Family Services' duties.
LifeNews.com reports that the ACLU's executive director thinks HB 2093 is part of a "radical agenda."
Colleen Connell, the executive director of the pro-abortion legal group, said, “The voters of Illinois do not endorse this radical agenda.” She went on to condemn the statutory rape reporting bill saying it would “add unnecessary governmental regulations on reproductive health care providers and women seeking to terminate a pregnancy.”
HB 2093 has a good chance of making it to the Illinois House floor threaded through the Agriculture and Conservation Committee. Of the 15 committee members, 12 or so have prolife voting records, including 5 Democrats and all Republicans.
State Rep. Monique Davis' sponsorship will be helpful in influencing the prominent Black Democratic Caucus on a House floor vote, and with the prolife downstate Democrats as well as the new crop of prolife conservative Republicans, there's reason to believe HB 2093 can pass the House.
The Senate will be another challenge.
