Proposition 4, “Sarah’s Law,” has been approved for the November ballot in California. “Sarah’s Law” is a constitutionally sound parental notification measure that would protect both minors and parental rights. It will also put California in line with the rest of America, 
as the majority of the states have parental involvements laws. The passage of Sarah’s Law in California will not only reduce the number of abortions performed in California, but may encourage some of the 15 states without such laws to consider a parental involvement law.
Measures like Sarah’s Law are essential to protecting minors from coerced abortions and sexual predators. For too long, sexual predators have avoided criminal liability by forcing young girls whom they have sexually abused to have secret abortions without their parents’ knowledge. These secret abortions not only destroy critical evidence of the criminal conduct, but allow the sexual abuse to continue undetected.
Parental involvement laws also give parents the opportunity to talk with the abortion provider about their daughter’s medical history and to make arrangements for adequate post-abortion care. In addition, if parents are aware of their minor daughter’s abortion, they will be able to respond better and more quickly to any complications that arise.
Such measures do not put teenage girls in danger from an abusive parent. If a minor has been subject to a pattern of reported physical, sexual or severe emotional abuse by someone entitled to notice under the law, Sarah’s Law, like similar measures in other states, provides that an “alternate family member” may be notified.
In light of the political climate and judicial history of abortion-related cases in California (PDF), the passage of Sarah’s Law is a viable, realistic way to protect the health of minors and parental rights, and to promote of life in California.
For more information on parental involvement laws, see Parental Involvement Laws: Protecting minors and furthering parental rights from Defending Life 2008.
