HELENA, Mont. — On Nov. 6, Montana passed a measure requiring abortion facilities to notify parents before performing the procedure on those under 16.
As votes rolled in Tuesday, 66% of state locals voted in favor and 33% voted against Referendum 120, which mandates that doctors notify a parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours beforehand.
Notice will not be required, however, if there is a medical emergency, if notice is waived by a youth in court in a sealed proceeding or if it is waived by the parent or guardian.
Physicians who perform an abortion in violation of this act or who coerce a minor to have an abortion will now be subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability.
Michael Pauley, the campaign consultant for the successful parental-notification law in Alaska in 2010, helped with Montana's campaign and had predicted victory for the legislation.
But in Florida, locals rejected a law Tuesday that would have exempted taxpayers' money going to abortion except in rape, incest or life endangerment.
State unofficial results say 55.22% voted against and only 44.78% voted in favor of passing Amendment 6, which would have required that minors have parental consent to have an abortion.
A Florida ballot amendment requiring parental notification, not consent, became law after it passed 65% to 35% in 2004.
The proposed amendment would have superseded statutory limitations by putting a prohibition in Florida's Constitution.
The law would have also limited the right to privacy relating to abortions and any court rulings that had upheld that right.