Tennessee Governor OKs Penalty For Adults Who Help Minors Receive Abortion, Gender-Affirming Care

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NEWSnet/AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has approved legislation designed to block adults from helping minors receive an abortion or gender-affirming care without parental consent.
Both laws go into effect July 1.
Tennessee will become the second state to enact legislation that supporters say will stop any adult who “intentionally recruits, harbors, or transports” a pregnant minor within the state to get an abortion without consent from the minor’s parents or guardians.
Ambulance drivers, emergency medical services personnel and other common transportation services are exempt under the law.
Those convicted of breaking the law would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.
The legislation does not contain exemption for minors who may have been raped by a parent or guardian. Instead, the statute says the biological father of the pregnant minor may not pursue civil action if pregnancy was caused by rape.
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