Aurora notification resolution moved to council

An Aurora city resolution urging the state to enforce its parental notification law was forwarded out of committee level Tuesday for a vote at the next city council meeting.

The long-awaited debate -- which likely will include more resident input -- will come at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

The parental notification issue comes on the heels of the controversial October opening of a Planned Parenthood clinic on the city's far east side.

Aldermen Rick Lawrence, Richard Irvin and Chris Beykirch are supporting the resolution, which they say is only a first step toward their ultimate goal: passing a city-wide ordinance that requires doctors to notify a parent at least 48 hours in advance of any medical procedure done on a minor.

This first resolution calls for the state to enforce its parental notice law for minors seeking abortions.

The law first was approved in 1995, but a federal court has blocked it from taking effect. A judge is reviewing the case.

On Tuesday, the committee of the whole forwarded the proposal with no recommendation to the council level.

Beykirch told aldermen supporting the resolution doesn't mean they'll also be required to support a city notification ordinance.

He also said he recently spoke with two Naperville city council members and officials there could discuss a similar resolution by the end of the year.

Lawrence said he would consider asking state leaders to include in their law any and all procedures done on minors -- not just abortions.

"There's nothing wrong with asking the state to do that," he said. "I don't understand why any law would target one procedure."

He said the resolution wasn't an attack on any specific place, but about "a parent's relationship with a child."

Alderman Stephanie Kifowit said, with exceptions, the state already requires parental consent for procedures done on minors.