Committee rejects parental-consent bill for minors’ abortion care after hours of testimony

The House Health and Human Development Committee considered House Substitute 1 for House Bill 46, a proposal to require written parental consent for certain minors seeking abortion care in the portion of Delaware law that treats minors as under age 16. After extensive testimony from medical and legal experts, advocacy groups and members of the public, the committee voted and the motion to advance the substitute failed to receive the required number of votes.

What the bill would do. Representative Shute, the sponsor, said the substitute would require a parent or legal guardian’s written consent before an abortion may be performed on a minor under the statutory definition used in that section of the code, which the sponsor noted covers 12- through 15-year-olds for the relevant provision. The sponsor said the bill preserves existing protections in Delaware law for medical emergencies, abuse and neglect and retains a judicial bypass procedure for minors who cannot obtain parental consent.

Voices at the hearing. Danielle Pimentel, policy counsel at Americans United for Life, testified in support, arguing parental involvement…