Abortion Waiting Period Initiative OKs to Gather Sigs

Backers of an initiative to that would require a 48-hour waiting period for most girls under 16 to have an abortion have received authorization to begin gathering signatures, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced Tuesday.

If approved by voters, the initiative would require the waiting period after the physician or other licensed medical professional notifies the girl’s parent or legal guardian in writing.

Exceptions would be provided for a medical emergency, parental waiver, emancipated minors or parental abuse documented by notarized statement from law enforcement or relatives.

A judge also would be allowed to waive the notice requirement if the girl appears in court and proves maturity or a waiver is in her best interest.

Reporting of specific abortion information to the state would also be required.

Physicians and other medical professionals violating terms of the initiative would be subject to a lawsuit for 12 years.

If the initiative were to become law, it would result in state administrative costs of at least $1 million and potentially a few million dollars annually, according to an analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst and Department of Finance.

The net fiscal impact on state health and social service programs is uncertain but is potentially in the millions of dollars annually to the extent the measure results in changes to the number of abortions and live births, the analysis found.

Valid signatures from 585,407 registered voters -- 8 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2014 general election -- must be submitted by May 16 to qualify the measure for the November 2016 ballot, according to Padilla.

Similar measures were defeated in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock