Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit transporting an individual under age 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion and thereby abridging the right of a parent under a law in force in the State where the individual resides requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor.
Specifies that neither the minor transported nor her parent may be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this Act.
Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution for, or to a civil action based on, such a violation that the defendant reasonably believed that before the individual obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification or judicial authorization that would have been required had the abortion been performed in the State where the individual resides, took place.
Authorizes any parent who suffers legal harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action. Defines "parent" to include a guardian, legal custodian, or person standing in loco parentis who has care and control of the minor, and with whom the minor regularly resides, who is designated by such law as a person to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 661 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 661
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 18, 1999
Mr. Abraham (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Lott, Mr. Sessions, Mr.
Nickles, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Craig, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Enzi, Mr. McCain, Mr.
Hutchinson, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Smith of New
Hampshire, Mr. Helms, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. DeWine) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Child Custody Protection Act''.
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:
``CHAPTER 117A--TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS IN CIRCUMVENTION OF CERTAIN
LAWS RELATING TO ABORTION
``Sec.
``2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws
relating to abortion.
``Sec. 2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws
relating to abortion
``(a) Offense.--
``(1) Generally.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
whoever knowingly transports an individual who has not attained
the age of 18 years across a State line, with the intent that
such individual 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 individual resides, shall be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
``(2) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, an
abridgement of the right of a parent occurs if an abortion is
performed on the individual, in a State other than the State
where the individual 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 individual resides.
``(b) Exceptions.--(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.
``(2) An individual transported in violation of this section, and
any parent of that individual, 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.
``(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
individual or other compelling facts, that before the individual
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 individual resides.
``(d) Civil Action.--Any parent who suffers legal harm from a
violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil
action.
``(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
``(1) a law requiring parental involvement in a minor's
abortion decision is a law--
``(A) requiring, before an abortion is performed on
a minor, either--
``(i) the notification to, or consent of, a
parent of that minor; or
``(ii) proceedings in a State court; and
``(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;
``(2) the term `parent' means--
``(A) a parent or guardian;
``(B) a legal custodian; or
``(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;
``(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;
and
``(4) the term `State' includes the District of Columbia
and any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the
United States.''.
(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:
``117A. Transportation of minors in circumvention of 2431.''.
certain laws relating to abortion.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2942)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
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