135L.2 - PROSPECTIVE MINOR PARENTS DECISION-MAKING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
135L.2 PROSPECTIVE MINOR PARENTS DECISION-MAKING
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
1. A decision-making assistance program is created to provide
assistance to minors in making informed decisions relating to
pregnancy. The program shall offer and include all of the following:
a. (1) A video, to be developed by a person selected through
a request for proposals process or other contractual agreement, which
provides information regarding the various options available to a
pregnant minor with regard to the pregnancy, including a decision to
continue the pregnancy to term and retain parental rights following
the child's birth, a decision to continue the pregnancy to term and
place the child for adoption following the child's birth, and a
decision to terminate the pregnancy through abortion. The video
shall provide the information in a manner and language, including but
not limited to the use of closed captioning for the hearing-impaired,
which could be understood by a minor.
(2) The video shall explain that public and private agencies are
available to assist a pregnant minor with any alternative chosen.
(3) The video shall explain that if the pregnant minor decides to
continue the pregnancy to term, and to retain parental rights to the
child, the father of the child is liable for the support of the
child.
(4) The video shall explain that tendering false documents is a
fraudulent practice in the fourth degree pursuant to section 135L.6.
b. Written decision-making materials which include all of the
following:
(1) Information regarding the options described in the video
including information regarding the agencies and programs available
to provide assistance to the pregnant minor in parenting a child;
information relating to adoption including but not limited to
information regarding child- placing agencies; and information
regarding abortion including but not limited to the legal
requirements relative to the performance of an abortion on a pregnant
minor. The information provided shall include information explaining
that if a pregnant minor decides to continue the pregnancy to term
and to retain parental rights, the father of the child is liable for
the support of the child and that if the pregnant minor seeks public
assistance on behalf of the child, the pregnant minor shall, and if
the pregnant minor is not otherwise eligible as a public assistance
recipient, the pregnant minor may, seek the assistance of the child
support recovery unit in establishing the paternity of the child, and
in seeking support payments for a reasonable amount of the costs
associated with the pregnancy, medical support, and maintenance from
the father of the child, or if the father is a minor, from the
parents of the minor father. The information shall include a listing
of the agencies and programs and the services available from each.
(2) A workbook which is to be used in viewing the video and which
includes a questionnaire and exercises to assist a pregnant minor in
viewing the video and in considering the options available regarding
the minor's pregnancy.
(3) A detachable certification form to be signed by the pregnant
minor certifying that the pregnant minor was offered a viewing of the
video and the written decision-making materials.
2. a. The video shall be available through the state and
local offices of the Iowa department of public health, the department
of human services, and the judicial branch and through the office of
each licensed physician who performs abortions.
b. The video may be available through the office of any
licensed physician who does not perform abortions, upon the request
of the physician; through any nonprofit agency serving minors, upon
the request of the agency; and through any other person providing
services to minors, upon the request of the person.
3. During the initial appointment between a licensed physician
from whom a pregnant minor is seeking the performance of an abortion
and a pregnant minor, the licensed physician shall offer the viewing
of the video and the written decision-making materials to the
pregnant minor, and shall obtain the signed and dated certification
form from the pregnant minor. A licensed physician shall not perform
an abortion on a pregnant minor prior to obtaining the completed
certification form from a pregnant minor.
4. A pregnant minor shall be encouraged to select a responsible
adult, preferably a parent of the pregnant minor, to accompany the
pregnant minor in viewing the video and receiving the decision-making
materials.
5. To the extent possible and at the discretion of the pregnant
minor, the person responsible for impregnating the pregnant minor
shall also be involved in the viewing of the video and in the receipt
of written decision-making materials.
6. Following the offering of the viewing of the video and of the
written decision-making materials, the pregnant minor shall sign and
date the certification form attached to the materials, and shall
submit the completed form to the licensed physician. The licensed
physician shall also provide a copy of the completed certification
form to the pregnant minor. Section History: Recent Form
96 Acts, ch 1011, § 2, 14; 96 Acts, ch 1174, § 1; 97 Acts, ch 173,
§2; 98 Acts, ch 1047, §16
Referred to in § 135L.3, 135L.6