State’s Parental Notification Act could be brought up during this month’s veto session

Posted on October 13, 2021
Gov. Pritzker says a repeal would be up to lawmakers. (Twitter/Governor JB Pritzker)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – As reporters in Springfield tried to pin down Gov. Pritzker on whether he’ll try to repeal the state’s Parental Notification Act, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) launched a passionate argument to repeal it.

Abortion rights advocates believe repealing PNA would be a good response to Texas’ anti-abortion laws. As for Duckworth, “Had I gotten pregnant at 16 or 17, I would have been one of those kids who lied to their parents if there were parental notification laws, and I would have gotten an illegal abortion,” she said in Springfield Tuesday. “When you talk about parental notification, it sounds like a good idea, but it also puts those vulnerable young people – the ones who do not have good communications with their parents – in a very vulnerable place, where they have no other options.”

Abortion rights advocates in Illinois believe a repeal would be an appropriate response to, for example, new restrictions in Texas.

Lawmakers are back in town for veto session, which starts next week. Pritzker says a repeal would be up to lawmakers.

Of course, he could simply ask a lawmaker to sponsor a bill.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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