HB 1723 – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1723
AN ACT making technical corrections regarding parental notification prior to abortion.
This bill makes certain technical changes to the waiver of notice section of the parental notification prior to abortion law.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-3047
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT making technical corrections regarding parental notification prior to abortion.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Parental Notification Prior to Abortion; Waiver of Notice. Amend RSA 132:34, II to read as follows:
II. If such a pregnant minor elects not to allow the notification of her parent or guardian or conservator, any superior or circuit court judge [of a court of competent jurisdiction] shall, upon petition, or motion, and after an appropriate hearing, authorize an abortion provider to perform the abortion if said judge determines that the pregnant minor is mature and capable of giving informed consent to the proposed abortion. If said judge determines that the pregnant minor is not mature, or if the pregnant minor does not claim to be mature, the judge shall determine whether the performance of an abortion upon her without notification of her parent, guardian, or conservator would be in her best interests and shall authorize an abortion provider to perform the abortion without such notification if said judge concludes that the pregnant minor’s best interests would be served thereby.
(a) Such a pregnant minor may participate in proceedings in the court on her own behalf, and the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for her. Any guardian ad litem appointed under this subdivision shall maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings. The court shall, however, advise her that she has a right to court-appointed counsel, and shall, upon her request, provide her with such counsel.
(b) Proceedings under this section shall be held in closed court, shall be confidential and shall ensure the anonymity of the minor. All court proceedings under this section shall be sealed. The minor shall have the right to file her petition in the court using a pseudonym or using solely her initials. All documents related to this petition shall be confidential and shall not be available to the public. These proceedings shall be given such precedence over other pending matters so that the court may reach a decision promptly and without delay so as to serve the best interest of the pregnant minor. In no case shall the court fail to rule within [48-hour] 2 court business days from the time the petition is filed, except that the [48-hour] 2 court business day limitation may be extended at the request of the minor. A judge of the court who conducts proceedings under this section shall make in writing specific factual findings and legal conclusions supporting the decision and shall order a record of the evidence to be maintained including the judge’s own findings and conclusions. If the court fails to rule within the [48-hour] 2 court business day period and an extension was not requested, then the petition shall be deemed to have been granted, and the notice requirement shall be waived.
(c) An expedited confidential appeal shall be available, as the supreme court provides by rule, to any such pregnant minor for whom the court denies an order authorizing an abortion without notification. The court shall make a ruling within [48-hour] 2 court business days from the time of the docketing of the appeal. An order authorizing an abortion without notification shall not be subject to appeal. No filing fees shall be required of any such pregnant minor at either the trial or the appellate level. Access to the trial court for the purposes of such a petition or motion, and access to the appellate courts for purposes of making an appeal from denial of the same, shall be afforded such a pregnant minor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(d) The supreme court shall make rules to ensure that procedures followed in the appeals process are handled in an expeditious manner and protect the confidentiality of the parties involved in the appeal to satisfy the requirements of the federal courts.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.