S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9090
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                            September 12, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  MANKTELOW  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law  and  the  family  court  act,  in
   relation to notice of abortions performed on unemancipated minors
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative purpose and findings. It is the intent of  this
 legislature  in  enacting  this parental notice provision to further the
 important and compelling state interests of  protecting  minors  against
 their  own  immaturity, fostering the family structure and preserving it
 as a viable social unit, protecting the rights of parents to rear  chil-
 dren  who  are  members of their household, and protecting the health of
 minor children.
   The legislature finds that immature minors often lack the  ability  to
 make  fully-informed  choices  that  take  account of both immediate and
 long-range consequences and that the medical, emotional  and  psycholog-
 ical  consequences  of  abortion are serious and can be lasting, partic-
 ularly when the patient is immature. The legislature further finds  that
 the  capacity  to  become  pregnant and the capacity for mature judgment
 concerning the wisdom of an abortion are not  necessarily  related.  The
 legislature  finds that parents ordinarily possess information essential
 to a physician's exercise of  such  physician's  best  medical  judgment
 concerning the child and, further, that parents who are aware that their
 minor  child  has  had  an  abortion  may  better ensure that such child
 receives adequate medical attention after  such  child's  abortion.  The
 legislature concludes then, that parental consultation is usually desir-
 able and in the best interest of the minor.
   §  2.  The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2509-b
 to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01521-01-5
 A. 9090                             2
 
              
             
                          
                   § 2509-B. NOTIFICATION OF ABORTIONS ON UNEMANCIPATED MINORS.  1. DEFI-
 NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION,  THE  FOLLOWING  DEFINITIONS
 WILL APPLY:
   (A)  "UNEMANCIPATED MINOR" MEANS A PERSON WHO HAS NOT ATTAINED THE AGE
 OF EIGHTEEN YEARS AND IS NOT AN EMANCIPATED MINOR AS  DEFINED  IN  PARA-
 GRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B)  "EMANCIPATED  MINOR"  MEANS  A  MINOR WHO IS OR HAS BEEN LAWFULLY
 MARRIED OR HAS BY COURT ORDER OR OTHERWISE BEEN  FREED  FROM  THE  CARE,
 CUSTODY AND CONTROL OF HER PARENTS.
   (C)  "ABORTION" MEANS THE USE OF ANY INSTRUMENT, MEDICINE, DRUG OR ANY
 OTHER SUBSTANCE OR DEVICE WITH INTENT TO TERMINATE THE  PREGNANCY  OF  A
 WOMAN KNOWN TO BE PREGNANT WITH INTENT OTHER THAN TO INCREASE THE PROBA-
 BILITY  OF  A  LIVE  BIRTH,  TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OR HEALTH OF THE CHILD
 AFTER LIVE BIRTH, OR TO REMOVE A DEAD FETUS.
   (D) "MEDICAL EMERGENCY" MEANS THAT CONDITION WHICH, ON  THE  BASIS  OF
 THE PHYSICIAN'S GOOD FAITH CLINICAL JUDGMENT, SO COMPLICATES THE MEDICAL
 CONDITION OF THE PREGNANT MINOR AS TO NECESSITATE THE IMMEDIATE ABORTION
 OF HER PREGNANCY TO AVERT HER DEATH OR FOR WHICH DELAY WILL CREATE SERI-
 OUS  RISK  OF  SUBSTANTIAL AND IRREVERSIBLE IMPAIRMENT OF A MAJOR BODILY
 FUNCTION.
   2. NOTIFICATION  CONCERNING  ABORTION.  NO  PERSON  SHALL  PERFORM  AN
 ABORTION UPON AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR UNLESS SUCH MINOR'S AGENT HAS GIVEN
 AT  LEAST  FORTY-EIGHT  HOURS  WRITTEN NOTICE TO A CUSTODIAL PARENT WITH
 WHOM THE MINOR RESIDES OR TO THE LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE PREGNANT MINOR OF
 SUCH PERSON'S INTENTION TO PERFORM THE ABORTION OR UNLESS  SUCH  MINOR'S
 AGENT HAS RECEIVED A WRITTEN STATEMENT OR ORAL COMMUNICATION, BY ANOTHER
 PHYSICIAN, HEREINAFTER CALLED THE "REFERRING PHYSICIAN", CERTIFYING THAT
 THE  REFERRING  PHYSICIAN  HAS  EFFECTUATED  SUCH NOTICE. IF THE MINOR'S
 PARENTS ARE DIVORCED OR LEGALLY SEPARATED, AND A CUSTODIAL  PARENT  WITH
 WHOM  THE  MINOR  RESIDES  IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PERSON PERFORMING THE
 ABORTION OR THE REFERRING PHYSICIAN IN A REASONABLE TIME OR MANNER, THEN
 THE NOTICE TO A NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT OR TO THE PARENT WHO  IS  AVAILABLE
 SHALL BE SUFFICIENT.
   (A) THE WRITTEN NOTICE SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN AT
 THE  USUAL  PLACE  OF  ABODE  OF  THE  PARENT  OR GUARDIAN AND DELIVERED
 PERSONALLY TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN BY THE PHYSICIAN OR AN AGENT.
   (B) IN LIEU OF THE DELIVERY REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, NOTICE SHALL BE MADE BY CERTIFIED MAIL ADDRESSED TO THE PARENT  OR
 GUARDIAN  AT  THE  USUAL  PLACE  OF ABODE OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN WITH
 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED WITH RESTRICTED DELIVERY TO THE ADDRESSEE. TIME
 OF DELIVERY SHALL BE DEEMED TO OCCUR AT 12:00 O'CLOCK NOON ON THE  THIRD
 DAY AFTER MAILING.
   3.  WAIVER  OF  NOTICE. NO NOTICE SHALL BE REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION
 IF:
   (A) THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN CERTIFIES IN THE PREGNANT MINOR'S  MEDICAL
 RECORD THAT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY EXISTS; OR
   (B)  THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO NOTICE CERTIFY IN WRIT-
 ING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED; OR
   (C) THE MINOR OBJECTS TO NOTICE BEING GIVEN TO SUCH MINOR'S  CUSTODIAL
 PARENT  WITH  WHOM  THE  MINOR  RESIDES OR LEGAL GUARDIAN AND OBTAINS AN
 ORDER ISSUED BY A JUDGE OF THE FAMILY COURT AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE TEN-A
 OF THE FAMILY COURT ACT, OR BY ANY OTHER JUDGE OR JUSTICE OF THIS  STATE
 HAVING JURISDICTION, DISPENSING WITH SUCH NOTICE.
   4.  COERCION  PROHIBITED.  NO  PARENT,  GUARDIAN OR OTHER PERSON SHALL
 COERCE A MINOR TO UNDERGO AN ABORTION. ANY MINOR WHO IS THREATENED  WITH
 SUCH COERCION MAY APPLY TO A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION FOR RELIEF.
 A. 9090                             3
 
 THE  COURT  SHALL  PROVIDE THE MINOR WITH COUNSEL, GIVE THE MATTER EXPE-
 DITED CONSIDERATION AND GRANT SUCH RELIEF AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT
 SUCH COERCION. SHOULD A  MINOR  BE  DENIED  FINANCIAL  SUPPORT  OF  SUCH
 MINOR'S  PARENTS BY REASON OF THEIR REFUSAL TO UNDERGO AN ABORTION, SUCH
 MINOR SHALL BE CONSIDERED EMANCIPATED FOR PURPOSES  OF  ELIGIBILITY  FOR
 ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.
   5.  PENALTIES.  ANY PERSON WHO INTENTIONALLY PERFORMS AN ABORTION WITH
 KNOWLEDGE THAT, OR WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD AS  TO  WHETHER,  THE  PERSON
 UPON WHOM THE ABORTION IS TO BE PERFORMED IS AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR, AND
 WHO INTENTIONALLY OR KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION
 SHALL  BE  GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. IN ADDITION, ANY PERSON WHO PERFORMS
 AN ABORTION UPON ANOTHER IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL  BE  SUBJECT
 TO  CIVIL  LIABILITY.  HOWEVER,  A PERSON SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE UNDER
 THIS SECTION IF THE PERSON ESTABLISHES  BY  WRITTEN  EVIDENCE  THAT  THE
 PERSON  RELIED  UPON EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO CONVINCE A REASONABLE PERSON
 THAT THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE  PREGNANT  MINOR  REGARDING  INFORMATION
 NECESSARY  TO COMPLY WITH THIS SECTION ARE BONA FIDE AND TRUE, OR IF THE
 PERSON HAS ATTEMPTED WITH REASONABLE DILIGENCE TO  DELIVER  NOTICE,  BUT
 HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO.
   §  3. Paragraph (viii) of subdivision (a) of section 213 of the family
 court act, as amended by chapter 920 of the laws of 1982, is amended and
 a new paragraph (ix) is added to read as follows:
   (viii) the number, nature and disposition  of  cases  involving  child
 abuse  under  article  ten  of  this  act, including total number of new
 cases, their nature, whether heard by the child abuse part, the age  and
 sex  of  the  children  involved,  the type of petitioner, the number of
 children temporarily removed both before and after the filing of a peti-
 tion, the length of time and number of adjournments between  the  filing
 of a petition and the fact-finding hearing, the number of cases that are
 dismissed,  withdrawn, sustained and admitted to, the length of time and
 number of adjournments between the fact-finding hearing and the disposi-
 tional hearing, and the final disposition of such cases[.];
   (IX) THE NUMBER AND DISPOSITION OF CASES UNDER ARTICLE TEN-D  OF  THIS
 ACT,  INCLUDING  THE  TOTAL  NUMBER  OF  NEW CASES, THE AGE OF THE MINOR
 INVOLVED, WHETHER THE ORDERS  REGARDING  NOTIFICATION  WERE  BASED  UPON
 FINDINGS  EITHER  THAT  THE  MINORS  WERE  MATURE  MINORS, AS DEFINED IN
 SECTION ONE THOUSAND NINETY-NINE-B OF THIS ACT OR THAT THE ABORTIONS, AS
 DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINE-B OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH  LAW,
 WERE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MINORS.
   §  4.  The family court act is amended by adding a new article 10-D to
 read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 10-D
              PROCEEDING TO OBTAIN AN ORDER WAIVING PARENTAL
                        NOTIFICATION OF AN ABORTION
 SECTION 1099.   PURPOSES.
         1099-A. DEFINITIONS.
         1099-B. JURISDICTION.
         1099-C. PROCEDURE.
   § 1099. PURPOSES. THIS ARTICLE IS INTENDED TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES  TO
 IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINE-B
 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
   §  1099-A. DEFINITIONS. WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE TERM "ABORTION"
 SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS IS ASCRIBED TO IT  IN  PARAGRAPH  (C)  OF
 SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  SECTION  TWENTY-FIVE  HUNDRED NINE-B OF THE PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW AND THE TERM "MATURE MINOR" SHALL MEAN A PERSON UNDER THE AGE
 OF EIGHTEEN WHO HAS NOT BEEN EMANCIPATED AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B)  OF
 A. 9090                             4
 
 SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  SECTION  TWENTY-FIVE  HUNDRED NINE-B OF THE PUBLIC
 HEALTH LAW AND WHO IS ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED, REASONED AND  CONSIDERED
 JUDGMENT  IN  CONNECTION  WITH A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH
 THE ABORTION.
   § 1099-B. JURISDICTION. THE FAMILY COURT HAS EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURIS-
 DICTION  OVER  PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS ARTICLE TO OBTAIN AN ORDER WAIVING
 PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF AN ABORTION.
   § 1099-C. PROCEDURE. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW:
   1. THE WAIVER OF PARENTAL NOTIFICATION TO AN ABORTION UPON OR WITH THE
 RESPECT TO AN UNEMANCIPATED MINOR MAY BE OBTAINED BY ORDER OF A JUDGE OF
 THE FAMILY COURT IN THE COUNTY WHERE SUCH  PERSON  RESIDES  OR  IF  SUCH
 MINOR  IS NOT A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE, IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABORTION
 IS TO BE PERFORMED, ON APPLICATION BY SUCH PERSON OR BY  A  RELATIVE  OF
 SUCH PERSON OR OTHER INTERESTED PARTY.
   2.  SUCH  COURT  PROCEEDINGS  SHALL  BE  COMMENCED EX PARTE AND MAY BE
 COMMENCED AND CONTINUED WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF ANY FEES. THE COURT SHALL
 ADVISE THE MINOR THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COURT-APPOINTED  COUNSEL  AND
 SHALL PROVIDE SUCH MINOR WITH SUCH COUNSEL UPON THEIR REQUEST.
   3. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE GIVEN IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND A HEAR-
 ING  SHALL  BE HELD IMMEDIATELY AT WHICH THE PERSON UPON OR WITH RESPECT
 TO WHOM THE ABORTION IS TO BE PERFORMED  SHALL  BE  PRESENT.  THE  COURT
 SHALL  ISSUE WRITTEN AND SPECIFIC FACTUAL FINDINGS AND LEGAL CONCLUSIONS
 SUPPORTING ITS DECISION AND SHALL ORDER THAT A  CONFIDENTIAL  RECORD  OF
 THE  EVIDENCE BE MAINTAINED. ALL PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH APPLI-
 CATION, INCLUDING AN APPEAL THEREFROM, SHALL PROTECT  THE  ANONYMITY  OF
 THE  MINOR.  SAID  PROCEEDINGS  SHALL  BE SEALED, AND NO PERSON SHALL BE
 ALLOWED ACCESS TO SUCH SEALED RECORDS EXCEPT UPON AN ORDER OF A JUDGE OF
 THE COURT IN WHICH THE APPLICATION WAS PROCESSED OR OF A JUSTICE OF  THE
 SUPREME  COURT  OF  THE  JUDICIAL  DISTRICT,  AND NO SUCH ORDER SHALL BE
 GRANTED EXCEPT ON GOOD CAUSE SHOWN.
   4. AN ORDER SHALL ISSUE ONLY UPON FINDING BY THE COURT (A)  THAT  SUCH
 PERSON  PRESENTLY  DESIRES  TO  SUBMIT  TO  SUCH ABORTION; (B) THAT SUCH
 PERSON IS EITHER A MATURE MINOR OR THAT SUCH ABORTION  IS  IN  THE  BEST
 INTEREST  OF  SUCH  PERSON; AND (C) THAT A PREVIOUS APPLICATION FOR SUCH
 ORDER HAS NOT BEEN MADE AND DENIED UPON THE SAME GROUNDS. IF  THE  COURT
 SO FINDS, THE ORDER MUST ISSUE.
   5.  IN  THE  EVENT  THAT  THE COURT SHALL DENY THE APPLICATION FOR THE
 ORDER, AN EXPEDITED ANONYMOUS APPEAL SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO  SUCH  APPLI-
 CANT  TO  THE  APPELLATE  DIVISION  OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE JUDICIAL
 DEPARTMENT IN WHICH THE COURT WHICH RENDERED THE  DECISION  IS  LOCATED.
 THE  NOTICE  OF INTENT TO APPEAL SHALL BE FILED WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS
 FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF THE ORDER. THE RECORD ON  APPEAL  SHALL  BE
 COMPLETED  AND  THE  APPEAL SHALL BE PERFECTED WITHIN FIVE DAYS FROM THE
 FILING OF THE NOTICE TO APPEAL.   BECAUSE TIME MAY  BE  OF  THE  ESSENCE
 REGARDING  THE  PERFORMANCE OF THE ABORTION, THE SUPREME COURT SHALL, BY
 COURT RULE, PROVIDE FOR EXPEDITED APPELLATE  REVIEW  OF  CASES  APPEALED
 UNDER THIS SECTION.
   6. THE SUPREME COURT SHALL PROMULGATE ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS NECES-
 SARY  TO  ENSURE  THAT  PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS SECTION ARE HANDLED IN AN
 EXPEDITIOUS AND ANONYMOUS MANNER.
   7. THE SUPREME COURT, IN ITS DISCRETION,  MAY  ISSUE  SUCH  OTHER  AND
 FURTHER LAWFUL ORDERS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO PROTECT SUCH PERSON.
   §  5.  Separability.  If any clause, sentence, section or part of this
 act shall be adjudged by any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to  be
 invalid,  such  judgment  shall  not  affect,  impair  or invalidate the
 remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause,
 A. 9090                             5
 
 sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly  involved  in  the
 controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.