Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) on Tuesday signed legislation (HB 197) that would require a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortion and tighten parental notification regulations for minors seeking the procedure, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The measure requires women seeking abortion to be informed of the medical risks of the procedure, the gestational age of the fetus, information about potential fetal pain experienced during an abortion and alternatives to the procedure. Women then will have to wait 24 hours before undergoing abortion (Salzer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/10). In addition, the measure requires that a minor's parent or legal guardian be notified if she seeks an abortion. The current parental notification law allows other adults, such as a grandparent or another relative, to stand in for a minor's parent or guardian (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/8). The new law takes effect immediately.

Governor's Comments
"The Woman's Right to Know is a common-sense approach to a sensitive issue," Perdue said, adding, "It gives us the proper respect and value for all life" (Eckenrode, Florida Times-Union, 5/11). "This legislation affirms that women have the right to be made aware of the risks of abortions as well as the risk of carrying a child to term," he said, adding, "Women also have the right to learn about all the other options available to them in the event of an unwanted pregnancy." Perdue also said that the law will ensure that teenagers are "not alone in having to make this decision" and have "the loving support and guidance that they need" (Pettys, AP/Macon Telegraph, 5/11). Abortion-rights opponents "cheered" the new law, saying they think it will help to reduce the number of abortions in Georgia, which totaled 34,545 in 2003, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. However, abortion-rights advocates said the law is "unnecessary" and could "hinder the ability of health care professionals to provide services," according to the Journal-Constitution (Salzer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/11).