Parental Notification

Summary from the 2005 ballot pamphlet
Bars abortion on an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after her physician notifies her parent or legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental or judicial waiver. Defines abortion as causing “death of the unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born.” Fiscal impact: net costs to Medi-Cal and other programs are unknown, but are probably not significant in the context of total expenditures for these programs.

Outcome: By a margin of 47.4 percent to 52.6 percent, voters rejected Prop. 73, so as of the 2005 special election, physicians are not required to notify parents or a legal guardian when a minor seeks an abortion; nor are they required to report abortions performed on minors to state officials. Minors are not required to wait a subsequent 48 hours to undergo abortions. “Abortion” remains undefined in the California Constitution.