S 1179 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 4, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. ENSIGN (for himself, Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. VITTER, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. VOINOVICH, Mr. WICKER, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. THUNE, and Mr. CHAMBLISS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Child Custody Protection Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION.

(a) In General- Title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 117 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘CHAPTER 117A--TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION

‘Sec.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘2432. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to incest.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 2431. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION.

‘(a) Offense-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) GENERALLY- Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever knowingly transports a minor across a State line, with the intent that such minor obtain an abortion, and thereby in fact abridges the right of a parent under a law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision, in force in the State where the minor resides, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) DEFINITION- For the purposes of this subsection, an abridgement of the right of a parent occurs if an abortion is performed on the minor, in a State other than the State where the minor resides, without the parental consent or notification, or the judicial authorization, that would have been required by that law had the abortion been performed in the State where the minor resides.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Exceptions-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) A minor transported in violation of this section, and any parent of that minor, may not be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this section, a conspiracy to violate this section, or an offense under section 2 or 3 based on a violation of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Affirmative Defense- It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for an offense, or to a civil action, based on a violation of this section that the defendant reasonably believed, based on information the defendant obtained directly from a parent of the minor or other compelling facts, that before the minor obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification, or judicial authorization took place that would have been required by the law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision, had the abortion been performed in the State where the minor resides.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Civil Action- Any parent who suffers harm from a violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action, unless the parent has committed an act of incest with the minor subject to subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Definitions- For the purposes of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) a ‘law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision’ means a law--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) requiring, before an abortion is performed on a minor, either--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the notification to, or consent of, a parent of that minor; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) proceedings in a State court; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) that does not provide as an alternative to the requirements described in subparagraph (A) notification to or consent of any person or entity who is not described in that subparagraph;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the term ‘parent’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a parent or guardian;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a legal custodian; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides, who is designated by the law requiring parental involvement in the minor’s abortion decision as a person to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) the term ‘minor’ means an individual who is not older than the maximum age requiring parental notification or consent, or proceedings in a State court, under the law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) the term ‘State’ includes the District of Columbia and any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 2432. TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN LAWS RELATING TO INCEST.

‘Notwithstanding section 2431(b)(2), whoever has committed an act of incest with a minor and knowingly transports the minor across a State line with the intent that such minor obtain an abortion, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 117 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2431.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink