State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) issued the following statement after the Governor signed House Bill 370 into law, which officially repeals the Parental Notice of Abortion (PNA) Act of 1995:
“Today, the Governor has chosen to once again attack the rights of parents by signing a bill that essentially tells parents that they do not deserve to know about the healthcare of their children. Repealing this vital law will prevent parents from being able to provide the support these young girls need during the most difficult time in their life.
“The Governor and his allies continuously claim that repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion Act would help protect victims of rape, incest, and domestic abuse, but the reality is the opposite. The PNA has mechanisms built-in that actually help to identify young girls who have been trafficked or abused.
“As a mother, I am both saddened and angered by the Governor’s decision to erode parental rights and remove a critical safeguard for the young girls of our state.”