Hager (OSU)
A bill was introduced to the House of Representatives that allows, for minors fifteen to eighteen, to receive birth control without parental consent. Arielle Quartuccio (OBU) said “A lot of my friends did not have parents around to make these decisions”. She said that since by these ages most people can drive and are fully capable of having a job, they have the ability to make these decisions and are fully capable of choosing what goes into their bodies. She said this bill was based on a huge factor, that of a friend who did not have parents and who had even come to the point of being adopted by her parents. One delegate asked the author a question about the payment, they asked if the minor was given money by the parent then it was still a form of parental consent, the author said the payment would be in between the parents and the kids. According to the authors’ bill, it was originally for minors between the ages of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) that can acquire birth control from a doctor without their parents or legal guardian’s authorization (s). It has now changed to sixteen (16) to eighteen (18). The doctor will not be permitted to inform the patient’s parents and/or legal guardian(s) about the patient’s condition. According to the bill the payments for the appointment and/or medication must be made in cash or with a credit card in the name of the patient. Quartuccio’s bill was passed by the House of Representatives by unanimous consent and will be passed to the Senate. Quartuccio expects the senate to vote yes since it is not only a great bill but a great step forward in letting people control what goes into their bodies and to prevent teen pregnancy.