A new bill in Idaho would ban minors from traveling out of the state for an abortion, potentially becoming the first state to restrict interstate travel for the procedure.
House Bill 242 bans what they call “abortion trafficking,” which is defined as an “adult who, with the intent to conceal an abortion from the parents or guardian of a pregnant, unemancipated minor, either procures an abortion … or obtains an abortion-inducing drug” for the minor.
“Recruiting, harboring, or transporting the pregnant minor within this state commits the crime of abortion trafficking,” the legislation says.
Anyone found guilty of committing abortion trafficking could face up to five years in state prison.
State Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R), one of the sponsors of the bill, told Huffpost that the intent of the legislation is to limit minors’ ability to travel out of state without parental consent.
“It’s already illegal to get an abortion here in the state of Idaho,” Ehardt said. “So, it would be taking that child across the border, and if that happens without the permission of the parent, that’s where we’ll be able to hold accountable those that would subvert a parent’s right.”
The bill passed the Idaho House of Representatives earlier this month on a 57 -12 vote. It passed out of a Senate committee on Monday and is awaiting a full Senate vote. If approved, it heads to Gov. Brad Little’s (R) desk for approval before it can become law.
Idaho already has one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. The state banned the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy except if necessary to save the pregnant person’s life or in cases of rape and incest. However, women must file a police report and submit it to medical providers to get an abortion in cases of rape or incest.
