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| Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) |
The Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 required doctors to notify a pregnant minor's parent or guardian 48 hours before the minor has an abortion. With the law repealed, abortion clinics will have the ability to hide pregnancies and abortions from parents. These parents will be unable to provide counsel or emotional support to their daughters during incredibly stressful moments in their lives.
“With reproductive rights under attack across the nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to healthcare services,” Pritzker said in a press release. “This repeal was essential, because it was the most vulnerable pregnant minors who were punished by this law: victims of rape and physical abuse in unsafe homes. I thank Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin), Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) and the lawmakers and advocates who have fiercely fought to repeal this law and keep vulnerable young people safe. I’m proud that Illinois continues to be a national leader in protecting reproductive rights.”
Planned Parenthood applauded the Governor for signing the repeal.
"Thank you Governor Pritzker for signing the Youth Health and Safety Act [HB370] into law," said Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. "Together, we're ensuring that young people can involve whomever they trust in their health care decisions, protecting them from harmful domestic situations and unnecessary judicial interactions."
The repeal not only makes it more difficult for parents to be involved in their daughters lives, it also makes it easier for bad actors to abuse young girls in Illinois. Sex traffickers and rapists no longer have to fear that an abortion business will inform a girl's parents about an abortion. This makes it easier for them to separate those girls from their parents or get away with their crimes simply by intimidating girls into silence.
Lauretta Froelich, a former prosecutor from the Office of the Cook County State's Attorney, is one of many voices who stated disappointment at Gov. Pritzker's decision.
"I am appalled that Governor Pritzker would sign a bill repealing our commonsense Parental Notification of Abortion Act. With his signature, Pritzker has opened the borders of the State of Illinois to pedophiles, sex offenders, and traffickers of minors. Illinois is now less safe for minor girls," Froelich said.
Mark Curran, who served as the Sheriff of Lake County from 2006-2008, also gave a statement following the repeal.
"In the twelve years that I served as the Sheriff of Lake County, bordering the State of Wisconsin, it was always a priority of my office to be vigilant about monitoring for the sex trafficking of minors across state lines. The Illinois Parental Notification of Abortion Law was a valued safeguard for law enforcement, providing us with an additional layer of protection for young girls. It is deeply troubling that Governor Pritzker would sign a bill removing that safeguard, effectively putting out a “welcome mat” for those who criminally abuse children. Pritzker has made the jobs of law enforcement officials that much more difficult – particularly for those areas that serve counties and towns bordering our neighboring states."
