California Proposition 4 (2008)
Encyclopedia
Proposition 4, or the Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative, also known to its supporters as Sarah's Law, was an initiative
state constitutional amendment
on the 2008 California
General Election ballot
The initiative would prohibit abortion
for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member.
Proposition 4 was rejected by voters on November 4 of that year.
Proposition 4 represents the third time that California voters will have considered the issue of a parental notification/waiting period for abortion. The two previous, unsuccessful, initiatives were California Proposition 85 (2006)
and California Proposition 73 (2005)
.
When Prop 73
lost in 2005, some supporters thought that a similar measure would fare better in a general election. However, Prop 85
did worse. Unlike 85 or 73, Proposition 4 allows an adult relative of the minor seeking an abortion to be notified, if the minor's parents are abusive.
Camille Giulio, a spokeswoman for the pro-4 campaign said that the November 2008 election represents a better opportunity for parental notification legislation because:
Judge Michael Kenny of the Sacramento Superior Court ultimately ruled against the opponents, allowing the original proposed ballot language and arguments, including references to Sarah, to stay in the official California voter's pamphlet.
Mark DiCamillo, director of the polling agency, said he believes the current version is running stronger because Latinos overwhelmingly favor it and are expected to vote in higher-than-usual numbers in November.
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
state constitutional amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
on the 2008 California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
General Election ballot
California state elections, November 2008
The California state elections, November 2008 were held on November 4, 2008 throughout California. Among the elections taking place were those for the office of President of the United States, all the seats of California's delegation to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State...
The initiative would prohibit abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member.
Proposition 4 was rejected by voters on November 4 of that year.
Specific provisions
The proposed initiative, if enacted as a constitutional amendment, would:- Provide exceptions for medical emergency or parental waiver.
- Permit courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor’s maturity or best interests.
- Mandate reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.
- Authorize monetary damages against physicians for violation.
- Require minor’s consent to abortion, with exceptions.
- Permit judicial relief if minor’s consent is coerced.
Fiscal Impact
- Health and Social Services Costs. Annual costs in the range of $4 million to $5 million for the state and about $2 million for counties, and potential one-time Medi-Cal automation costs unlikely to exceed a few million dollars.
- Costs to Local Law Enforcement and Courts. Annual costs in the range of $5 million to $6 million per year.
- Potential Offsetting Savings. Unknown, potential savings to the state in health care and public assistance costs from decreases in sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy.
Supporters
- The Friends of Sarah, the Parental or Alternative Family Member Notification Act. is the official ballot committee.
- The California Catholic Conference
- Gov. Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
Arguments in favor of Prop. 4
Notable arguments that have been made in favor of Prop. 4 include:- 34 other U.S. States have had notification laws in place for as long as 25 years.
- When a minor obtains an abortion without the knowledge of a family member or guardian, her health can be endangered if health complications arise after the abortion.
- If a minor becomes pregnant because of sexual violence or predation, a sexual predator may be missed, because the abortion clinic may not report the sexual crime.
Donors
As of September 27, 2008, the six largest donors to Prop. 4 are:- Jim Holman, $1,525,590. (Of this, $1.35 million is listed as a loan.)
- Don SebastianiDon SebastianiDon Sebastiani is an American vintner and politician from the state of California.Sebastiani grew up in Sonoma, California. Born to parents August and Sylvia Sebastiani, he was the youngest of three children, with older siblings Sam and Mary Ann. He attended St. Francis Solano School in Sonoma,...
, $530,000. - Knights of ColumbusKnights of ColumbusThe Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, $200,000. - Life Legal Defense Foundation, $50,000.
- The Lenawee Trust, $100,000.
- The Caster Family Trust, $100,000.
Path to ballot and prior attempts at passage
The signature-gathering drive to qualify the 2008 Parental Notification petition for the ballot was conducted by petition management firm Bader & Associates, Inc. at a cost of $2,555,000.Proposition 4 represents the third time that California voters will have considered the issue of a parental notification/waiting period for abortion. The two previous, unsuccessful, initiatives were California Proposition 85 (2006)
California Proposition 85 (2006)
California Proposition 85, the Parental Notification Initiative, was a proposition on the ballot for California voters in the general election of November 7, 2006. It was similar to the previous year's Proposition 73...
and California Proposition 73 (2005)
California Proposition 73 (2005)
Proposition 73, the Parental Notification Initiative, would have amended the California Constitution to bar abortion on an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver...
.
When Prop 73
California Proposition 73 (2005)
Proposition 73, the Parental Notification Initiative, would have amended the California Constitution to bar abortion on an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver...
lost in 2005, some supporters thought that a similar measure would fare better in a general election. However, Prop 85
California Proposition 85 (2006)
California Proposition 85, the Parental Notification Initiative, was a proposition on the ballot for California voters in the general election of November 7, 2006. It was similar to the previous year's Proposition 73...
did worse. Unlike 85 or 73, Proposition 4 allows an adult relative of the minor seeking an abortion to be notified, if the minor's parents are abusive.
Camille Giulio, a spokeswoman for the pro-4 campaign said that the November 2008 election represents a better opportunity for parental notification legislation because:
- There will be a higher voter turnout in November 2008 than when 85 and 73 were voted on.
- Socially conservative voters will be motivated to come to the polls to vote in favor of the much higher profile Proposition 8California Proposition 8 (2008)Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. While at the polls, they are likely to also vote in favor of 4. - The two previous campaigns represented narrow defeats in low budget campaigns.
| Year | Proposition | Votes for | % for | Votes against | % against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Prop 73 California Proposition 73 (2005) Proposition 73, the Parental Notification Initiative, would have amended the California Constitution to bar abortion on an unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor's parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver... |
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| 2006 | Prop 85 California Proposition 85 (2006) California Proposition 85, the Parental Notification Initiative, was a proposition on the ballot for California voters in the general election of November 7, 2006. It was similar to the previous year's Proposition 73... |
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| 2008 | Prop 4 | |
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Opposition to Prop. 4
The Campaign for Teen Safety is the official ballot committee against the proposition.- American Academy of Pediatrics, California District
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX
- California Academy of Family Physicians
- California Family Health Council
- California Nurses Association
- California School Counselors Association
- California Teachers Association
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
- California NOW
- Equality CaliforniaEquality CaliforniaEquality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California.-Early history:...
- The Let California Ring coalition
Arguments against Prop. 4
Notable arguments that have been made against Prop. 4 include:- Mandated parental notification laws do not work. No law can mandate family communication.
- Some teenagers can't go to their parents for fear of being forced to leave their home, abuse, or worse.
- Prop 4 may force these teens to delay medical care, turn to self-induced abortions, or consider suicide.
- The reason there are fewer teen pregnancies in states mandating parental notification is that more teenage girls choose to go underground and have unsafe abortions which go unreported.
- Fear of parents being notified in the event of an abortion is highly unlikely to motivate teens to practice abstinence.
- This proposition is extremely gender-biased. It is unlikely that any law would mandate the notification of the father's parents.
- The vote will be biased as those affected by the bill, namely minors, are unable to vote on it.
- If a teen seeks the support of another adult, her parents would automatically be reported to authorities and an investigation would ensue.
Donors to opposition
As of September 27, some of the top donors to the opposition campaign were:- A number of different Planned ParenthoodPlanned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
affiliates, including the Los Angeles, Mar Monte, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Shasta Diablo and Pasadena offices, $4,485,000 - California Teachers AssociationCalifornia Teachers AssociationThe California Teachers Association , initially established in 1863 as the California Educational Society, is by far the largest teachers' union in the state of California. It is considered by many to be the most powerful union in California...
, $450,000. - California Family Health Council, $80,000.
- Committee for a New Economy, $25,000.
- ACLU, Northern California, $50,000.
- ACLU, Southern California, $10,000.
- Susan Orr, $100,000.
- John Morgridge, $100,000.
Lawsuit filed over Prop. 4 language
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and others filed a lawsuit with the Sacramento County Superior Court in early August to strike out all references to "Sarah" and "Sarah's Law" and "other misleading language in the voter's guide" for Proposition 4. The title "Sarah's Law" refers to the case of 15-year-old "Sarah" who died as a result of an abortion in 1994. Proposition 4's ballot language in the official voter's guide suggests that "Sarah" might have been saved had her parents known about her abortion. Opponents of Proposition 4 argue that "Sarah" was not considered a minor in Texas, where the abortion was performed, and that she already had a child with a man who claimed to be her commonlaw husband. If this is the case, the proposed law, Proposition 4, would not have helped her, since it wouldn't have applied to her. Based on this reasoning, opponents asked that the references to Sarah be stricken.Judge Michael Kenny of the Sacramento Superior Court ultimately ruled against the opponents, allowing the original proposed ballot language and arguments, including references to Sarah, to stay in the official California voter's pamphlet.
Polling information
The Field Poll has conducted and released the results of four public opinion polls on Proposition 4, in July, August, September, and October.Mark DiCamillo, director of the polling agency, said he believes the current version is running stronger because Latinos overwhelmingly favor it and are expected to vote in higher-than-usual numbers in November.
| Month of Poll | In Favor | Opposed | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2008 | 48 percent | 39 percent | 13 percent |
| August 2008 | 47 percent | 44 percent | 9 percent |
| September 2008 | 49 percent | 41 percent | 10 percent |
| October 2008 | 45 percent | 43 percent | 12 percent |
Results
Additional reading
- To defeat Obama, conservatives take the initiative
- Fisher: Anti-abortion ballot measure still a bad idea
External links
- California's official voter guide on Proposition 4
- Text of initiative
- Signature validation progress sheet, from the California Secretary of State.
- CaliforniaPropositions.org Prop 4 information page
- California Voter Online guide to Proposition 4
- Smart Voter Guide to Proposition 4
- Campaign Expenditures for Proposition 4, Parental Notification