Jul 07 Not Germane: Parental Consent for Medical Procedures

Body: Senate | Journal Page:  9263 
Scored? Yes | Right Vote: N
Author: Hann
Acting on: SF525  Date: 04/06/2010
Result: Ruling Upheld 45 - 20

The Hann amendment would repeal MS 144.343, subdivision 1, which statutorily orders parents to stay out of the lives of their minor children who may be pregnant or suffering from a venereal disease or drug addiction.  The law states that "Any minor may give effective consent for medical, mental and other health services to determine the presence of or to treat pregnancy and conditions associated therewith, venereal disease, alcohol and other drug abuse, and the consent of no other person is required." 

The amendment would be added to SF 525, a bill that imposes a new state-wide regulatory scheme on body art businesses. 

Much of SF 525 is devoted to dictating strict limits on parental authority in the body piercing area.  The bill prohibits businesses from tattooing minors, with or without parental consent, and requires parental consent and the presence of the parent for body piercings.  Also strictly prohibited, regardless of parental consent, are "nipple or genital piercing, branding, scarification, suspension, subdermal implantation, microdermal, or tongue bifurcation." 

The Hann amendment was challenged on germaness.  You would think outgoing Senator Dennis Frederickson, acting as presiding officer, would throw his GOP caucus mates a bone and rule the amendment to be germane.  But no, best not to stray from the moderate path.  Vote Red to overrule the Frederickson germaness ruling and allow an up or down vote on the Hann amendment.  Feel free to think of this vote not as a vote on germaness, but on whether parents or bureaucrats should be the ones who are ultimately responsible for the well being of children.

Cross posted at BillsandVotes.com