Capitol Report
Final Report of the Regular Session
Delegate Kayla Kessinger (R-Fayette) was the lead sponsor of the Parent’s Right to Know Act, HB 2002.
(Charleston – April 12, 2017) On the last day of the West Virginia legislative session (Saturday, April 8), the Senate overwhelmingly passed HB 2002, the Parent’s Right to Know Act, by a 28-6 vote. A few hours later, the House concurred by an equally lopsided vote of 82-17.
Senator Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson), lead sponsor of the Parent’s Right to Know Act, amended the Telemedicine bill, HB 2509, to prevent abortion expansion in the state.
HB 2002 closes a loophole in the 1984 law that allowed for a second doctor to okay a minor girl’s abortion without her parent’s knowledge. The bill still allows for a judicial bypass in abusive situations.
“West Virginia’s pro-life legislators recognized the need to protect the rights of parents to know when their daughter is contemplating an abortion, which is an invasive surgical procedure and a life-changing decision,” said West Virginians for Life Legislative Coordinator Karen Cross. “If a child is a victim of sexual abuse, I find it unbelievable that she can be given a secret abortion and returned to the abuse. This law should rectify that because judges are mandatory reporters.”
West Virginia now joins 30 other states with similar laws, most of which have been in effect for decades.
The Telemedicine Bill permits a physician to prescribe certain controlled substances when using telemedicine technologies. Read More>>
Capitol Report
Last Days for Parent’s Have a Right to Know and the Telemedicine Bill
(Charleston – April 7, 2017) So much has happened in this last week of the legislature with HB 2002 and HB 2509.
Let’s start with HB 2002, the Parent’s Right to Know Act. After making it through Senate Health, it was welcome news that the bill would bypass Senate Judiciary. HB 2002 made it onto the floor for 1st reading on Thursday, April 6, and will be on 2nd reading (amendment stage) today. Third reading (final Senate passage) is expected on the last day of the session, April 8th. Then the House still has to concur before the midnight conclusion of the 60-day session. Continue to pray that all of this takes place. West Virginians for Life is so thankful for our pro-life legislators who have gone the distance with us in improving a law that will protect our little girls in West Virginia and strengthen parental rights. Today and Saturday (April 8), continue to call and email your Senators to vote for HB 2002, the Parent’s Right to Know Act. We need to next call and email our delegates to concur with the pro-life changes to the bill once HB 2002 passes the Senate, if and when it does.
As for HB 2509, the Telemedicine Bill, the wait now is on the House to concur with the Senate. Pray that occurs. Because HB 2509, the Telemedicine Bill, would have expanded abortion throughout the state, it was amended in the Senate to prevent long-distance prescription of drugs for the purpose of causing abortion. Again, kudos to those pro-life legislators who went the extra mile with HB 2509. Today and Saturday (April 8), call and email your Delegates to concur with HB 2509, the Telemedicine Bill.
Capitol Report
Parent’s Have a Right to Know plus a Telemedicine Bill
(Charleston – March 31, 2017) The Parent’s Right to Know Act, HB 2002, is still alive. The bill is on the Senate Health Committee agenda for Tuesday (April 4) of the last week of the session. It is expected to pass out of Health on Tuesday, then on to the Senate Judiciary Committee from where it will proceed to readings on the Senate floor.
While it will be a challenge to get HB 2002 through the legislative process by midnight Saturday (April 8), West Virginians for Life has complete faith in our pro-life legislators, that this will happen.
HB 2002 will close loopholes in a flawed 1984 West Virginia law. It would require that one parent or guardian be notified in person by mail before a minor child could have her abortion. The current state law allows a second abortionist to authorize secret abortions on underage girls — for any reason, not just rape or incest. Sexual predators can use these loopholes to seek abortions for their victims to conceal their crimes.
What pro-life constituents can do now is to call and email their State Senators and ask them to “please vote for HB 2002, the Parent’s Right to Know Act.”
West Virginians for Life also supports HB 2509, a Telemedicine Bill, that thankfully now includes an amendment under Prescribing Limitations that says “A physician or health care provider may not prescribe any drug with the intent of causing an abortion.” Otherwise, web-cam abortions would have been legal in West Virginia and there is evidence to support the fact that RU-486 is dangerous. It hurts women, even killing some of them, and results in a dead baby.
It is clear from this Gazette-Mail article, that the pro-abortion organization WV Free wants to use this bill to expand abortion in West Virginia.
The bill has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Please contact your Senators and Delegates and ask them to “please support HB 2509 as amended.”
Capitol Report
(Charleston – March 24, 2017) The Parent’s Right to Know Act (H.B. 2002/S.B. 424) will close a loophole in a 1984 law that allows a second physician to sign off on an underage girl’s abortion circumventing her parents ever finding out about it.
As of this report, the bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee on Thursday, March 23. It will be on First Reading on Saturday, Second Reading (the amendment stage) on Monday and Third Reading/Passage on Tuesday, March 28. Then it will move on to the Senate just one day ahead of the crossover deadline.
What supporters can do is to contact your district Delegates and ask them to vote for the Parent’s Right to Know Act (HB 2002) on Tuesday.
Keep coming back here to this page to see the latest information.
Capitol Report
Parent’s Right to Know Petitions presented to Senate and House leadership at the March 13 Pro-Life Rally in the Capitol
(Charleston – March 22, 2017) The Parent’s Right to Know Act (H.B. 2002) will close a loophole in a 1984 law that allows a second physician to sign off on an underage girl’s abortion circumventing her parents ever finding out about it.
As of this report, a sub-committee of Judiciary members (pro-abortion Barbara Fleishchauer, pro-life Amy Summers, and the bill sponsor pro-life Kayla Kessinger) met on Tuesday, March 21. This was one day after a public hearing in the House chamber.
The entire Judiciary Committee should be taking up the bill on Thursday, March 23, creating the likelihood of the bill being on 1st reading on Saturday, 2nd reading (amendment stage) on Monday, and 3rd reading (passage) to the Senate on Tuesday, just one day ahead of the crossover deadline!
Have you asked your local delegates yet to vote for passage of HB 2002? Even if you have, do it again.
You may contact your Delegates here from your district right now using email or phone. And don’t forget to PRAY – PRAY – PRAY!
Keep coming back here to this page to see the latest information.
Capitol Report
(Charleston – March 17, 2017) The Parent’s Right to Know Act (H.B. 2002/S.B. 424) will close a loophole in a 1984 law that allows a second physician to sign off on an underage girl’s abortion circumventing her parents ever finding out about it.
As of this report, the bill has passed out of the House Health Committee and is headed to Judiciary. A bill may undergo many transitions before it ends up in its final form.
Pray that the bill language ends up being what is necessary to the success of correcting the bogus 1984 law.
Keep coming back here to this page to see the latest information.
PRAYER NEEDED
(Charleston – March 16, 2017, 2:30 p.m.) HB 2002, The Parent’s Right to Know Act, is in the Health Committee as you receive this message. 
The Parent’s Right to Know Act would allow parents and appropriate law enforcement authorities to protect our children by requiring abortionists to notify parents of their minor child’s pending abortion and exposing sexual abuse.
Please pray that the committee sees fit to pass the bill out of Health and on to the Judiciary Committee.
To see which delegates are on the Health Committee, click here.
THE CAPITOL REPORT – March 10, 2017
WVFL Pres. Wanda Franz with pro-life Senate Pres. Mitch Carmichael
The best thing you can do right now to show your support for the Parent’s Right to Know Act is to come to Charleston on Monday, March 13, and stand up for the bills. The noon Rally in the lower rotunda is where you will want to be on Monday. A strong presence on Monday at the capitol will speak volumes to the legislators and really work to get this bill moving.
Pro-Life House Speaker Tim Armstead
The second thing you can do, if you have not, is to call and email your representatives. Information to do just that and what you can say is provided below in previous reports.
Photo Credits: Karen Cross
THE CAPITOL REPORT – March 3, 2017
WVFL President Dr. Wanda Franz with Senator Patricia Rucker, Lead Sponsor of S.B. 424
The Parent’s Right to Know Act (H.B. 2002/S.B. 424) will close a loophole in a 1984 law that allows a second physician to sign off on an underage girl’s abortion circumventing her parents ever finding out about it.
The Parent’s Right to Know Act has been double referenced in both the House and the Senate to their respective Health Committees and then to their Judiciary Committees.
The bill, which started out in the House of Delegates, was introduced on February 20.
The first hurdle for the bill will be the House Health Committee where it is currently. Members of that committee can be found here along with contact information.
Once the bill makes it through the Health Committee, the next stop will be the House Judiciary Committee. Its members can be found by clicking here.
If you are asking yourself what you can do to help the bill progress, you can contact NOW any Delegates and Senators from your district and request their support for this legislation.
Continue to check the website under Parent’s Right to Know Act and Capitol Reports 2017 for updates. Also sign up to receive our FridayWeekly Updates so you keep abreast of timely happenings.
THE CAPITOL REPORT – February 24, 2017
WVFL Legislative Coordinator Karen Cross with Senator Patricia Rucker, Lead Sponsor of S.B. 424
(February 24, 2017 – Charleston) – West Virginians for Life has met with leadership in both the WV Senate and House. It has been amazing how many senators have signed on to cosponsor the Parent’s Right to Know Act. The bill numbers are S.B. 424 in the Senate and H.B. 2002 in the House. This bill would allow parents and appropriate law enforcement authorities to protect our children by requiring abortionists to notify parents of their minor child’s pending abortion and exposing sexual abuse. Click here to visit the Parents Have a Right To Know Act page on our website.
S.B. 424 Lead Sponsor in the Senate is Senator Patricia Rucker. Cosponsors are Senators Azinger, Blair, Boley, Boso, Clements, Cline, Ferns, Gaunch, Hall, Karnes, Mann, Maroney, Maynard, Mullins, Ojeda, Prezioso, Smith, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump, Unger, and Weld.
Meanwhile Delegate Kayla Kessinger is the Lead Sponsor in the House of Delegates for companion H.B. 2002. Delegate cosponsors include Arvon, Butler, Allen Evans, Fast, Frich, Lane, Paynter, Roger Romine, Rowan, and Wilson.
Karen Cross with Delegate Kayla Kessinger, Lead Sponsor of H.B. 2002, the Parent’s Right to Know companion bill
It is not too soon to be calling and emailing your Senators and Delegates regarding these bills. Ask them to support the Parent’s Right to Know Act. The capitol switchboard number is 1-877-565-3447.
Simply click here to go to a list of Senators with phone numbers and email addresses. Just look for the county in which you reside.
Visit here to find a list of Delegates. Again just look for your county.
Print out these lists and refer to them frequently throughout the legislative session, which will end on April 8.
Be sure to attend Pro-Life Rally Day on March 13 at the State Capitol to show your support for these bills.