The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) released state abortion statistics for 2018 which showed an increase of over 3,000 procedures in 2017. According to IDPH, 42,441 abortions were performed, 3,112 more than the previous year. A total of 3,578 of the patients reported they were married Illinois residents.
Some attribute the nearly 8% increase to former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R), who signed Illinois House Bill 40 into law in September 2017. That provided abortion coverage for state workers and Medicaid recipients through taxpayer funded abortions.
The number performed on out-of-state residents was 5,688, compared to 5,528 in 2017, representing an increase of almost 3%. Many expect the numbers to grow as the state legislature continues to enact progressive abortion laws, while lawmakers in surrounding states tighten theirs. The Reproductive Health Act, passed in June 2019, allows abortions at any time during pregnancy and is expected to attract many out-state-residents seeking abortions.
Cook County reported the most abortions with 23,189.
Parental notification law at risk
The Illinois requirement that minors receive a parent’s permission prior to an abortion is a likely target in the current legislative session. Senate Bill 1594, a repeal of the Parental Abortion Notice Act, was filed in April 2019 by Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) and was a given a first reading during the spring session. While it failed to go further last year, pro-life advocates caution the discussion is being renewed.
The original notification law was passed in 1995 but held up in courts until 2013. According to Eric Scheidler, executive director of Pro-Life Action League, abortions in the state decreased by 35% after its implementation. He told the Mauck & Baker podcast, Lawyers for Jesus, “[abortion proponents] are trying to water it down so it won’t really have any impact…. They want to undermine the whole concept of parental rights.”
Bill could require HPV vaccines without parental consent
A bill requiring incoming middle school students to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is making its way through the state legislature. House Bill 4870, sponsored by Reps. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) and Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), was filed Feb. 11. The bill had its first reading and was assigned to the Rules Committee Feb. 18.
Some contend the HPV vaccine is hazardous to their children’s health. Others argue such a bill would further chip away at parental rights. The requirement would apply to all students prior to entering sixth grade, regardless of public or private school attendance or homeschool status.
Meanwhile Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) introduced Senate Bill 3668, which would repeal religious and medical exemptions for school immunizations and authorize students 14 and older to be vaccinated without parental consent. Currently, the Illinois Department of Public Health requires 12 vaccines for school children. SB 3668 has been referred to the Assignments Committee.
-Compiled by Lisa Misner