Connecticut HB 5309: AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF NOTICE TO A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR CHILD WHO SEEKS TO RECEIVE PREGNANCY-RELATED HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Bill Text

LCO No. 1880 1 of 6

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5309
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1880

Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY

Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF NOTICE TO A PARENT
OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR CHILD WHO SEEKS TO RECEIVE
PREGNANCY-RELATED HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 19a-601 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
(a) Prior to the performance of an abortion upon a minor, a physician 3
or counselor shall provide pregnancy information and counseling in 4
accordance with this section in a manner and language that will be 5
understood by the minor. The physician or counselor shall: 6
(1) Explain that the information being given to the minor is being 7
given objectively and is not intended to coerce, persuade or induce the 8
minor to choose to have an abortion or to carry the pregnancy to term; 9
(2) Explain that the minor may withdraw a decision to have an 10
abortion at any time before the abortion is performed or may reconsider 11
a decision not to have an abortion at any time within the time period 12
during which an abortion may legally be performed; 13

Raised Bill No. 5309

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(3) Explain to the minor the alternative choices available for 14
managing the pregnancy, including: (A) Carrying the pregnancy to term 15
and keeping the child, (B) carrying the pregnancy to term and placing 16
the child for adoption, placing the child with a relative or obtaining 17
voluntary foster care for the child, and (C) having an abortion, and 18
explain that public and private agencies are available to assist the minor 19
with whichever alternative she chooses and that a list of these agencies 20
and the services available from each will be provided if the minor 21
requests; 22
(4) Explain that public and private agencies are available to provide 23
birth control information and that a list of these agencies and the 24
services available from each will be provided if the minor requests; 25
[(5) Discuss the possibility of involving the minor's parents, guardian 26
or other adult family members in the minor's decision-making 27
concerning the pregnancy and whether the minor believes that 28
involvement would be in the minor's best interests; and] 29
(5) Explain and carry out the following notification procedures to 30
parents, legal guardians or others: 31
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, notice 32
shall be provided to at least one parent or legal guardian of a pregnant 33
unemancipated minor not less than forty-eight hours prior to the 34
performance of an abortion upon such minor. Such notice may be 35
provided by the physician or counselor providing information and 36
counseling; and 37
(B) If a pregnant unemancipated minor declares in a signed written 38
statement that she is a victim of sexual abuse, neglect or physical abuse 39
by either of her parents or her legal guardian, the physician or counselor 40
providing counseling shall provide the notice required pursuant to 41
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision to such minor's brother or sister 42
who is aged twenty-one years or older or a stepparent or grandparent 43
specified by such minor or, if no such person exists, to some other 44

Raised Bill No. 5309

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person who is aged twenty-one years or older specified by such minor; 45
and 46
(6) Provide adequate opportunity for the minor to ask any questions 47
concerning the pregnancy, abortion, child care and adoption, and 48
provide information the minor seeks or, if the person cannot provide the 49
information, indicate where the minor can receive the information. 50
(b) After the person provides the information and counseling to a 51
minor as required by this section, such person shall have the minor sign 52
and date a form stating that: 53
(1) The minor has received information on alternatives to abortion 54
and that there are agencies that will provide assistance and that a list of 55
these agencies and the services available from each will be provided if 56
the minor requests; 57
(2) The minor has received an explanation that the minor may 58
withdraw an abortion decision or reconsider a decision to carry a 59
pregnancy to term; 60
(3) The alternatives available for managing the pregnancy have been 61
explained to the minor; 62
(4) The minor has received an explanation about agencies available 63
to provide birth control information and that a list of these agencies and 64
the services available from each will be provided if the minor requests; 65
(5) The minor [has discussed with the person providing the 66
information and counseling the possibility of involving the minor's 67
parents, guardian or other adult family members in the minor's 68
decision-making about the pregnancy] received an explanation of the 69
parental notification requi