Texas Senate Approves Bill Limiting Minors Seeking Abortions

Texas Sen. Charles Perry, R- Lubbock, talks to a colleague in the Senate Chambers at the Texas State Capitol, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Austin, Texas. A woman in Oklahoma has requested a protective order against Perr... Texas Sen. Charles Perry, R- Lubbock, talks to a colleague in the Senate Chambers at the Texas State Capitol, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Austin, Texas. A woman in Oklahoma has requested a protective order against Perry, whom she accuses of stalking and threatening to harm her. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) MORE LESS
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The Texas state Senate on Monday approved a bill that would restrict minors seeking court permission for an abortion without obtaining consent from a parent.

In Texas, minors must have parental approval for an abortion unless seeking permission could put the individual in danger. In that case, minors can seek court approval for the procedure.

According to the Texas Tribune, the Senate on Monday approved a bill that would restrict where a minor could seek court approval and increase the length of time judges can use to rule on the minor’s case from two to five days. The bill may also make it harder for minors to prove that seeking parental consent could put them in danger, according to the Texas Tribune.

After the bill was passed in the House, the Senate nixed some provisions from the bill that raised concerns with Democrats. The bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Charles Perry (R), removed a provision that would have required doctors to ask patients for a government ID to prove that they are age 18 or over.

The original bill also stated that if a judge does not rule on a minor’s case within five days, the request is denied. Perry removed that provision from the bill as well, according to the Texas Tribune.

The Texas House, which approved the original bill, must now pass the amended legislation by Friday, according to the Texas Tribune.

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