P037Indicators of the consequences of parental involvement laws illustrate the extent of need for and denials of judicial bypass — post-roe implications

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> We defined two indicators of the consequences of abortion restrictions. Parental involvement laws impact all minors who need abortion by forcing them to either involve a parent or petition for judicial bypass, which exposes them to risk of abortion denial. We used the indicators to illustrate the relative size of these groups in Florida and Texas, large states with parental involvement laws, one expected to maintain and one expected to eliminate access to clinical abortion care post-<i>Roe</i>. <h3>Methods</h3> Data were official statistics on judicial bypasses and abortions, available publicly for Texas and by request for Florida. Annually for each state 2018–2021), we expressed the number of bypass petitions as a percentage of abortions among minors and calculated the percentage of bypass petitions denied by a judge. <h3>Results</h3> Between 2018 and 2021, the percentage of minors obtaining abortions through a petition for judicial bypass ranged from 14% to 15% in Florida and 10% to 14% in Texas. The percentage of judicial bypass petitions denied was 6–13% in Florida and 5–7% in Texas. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Parental involvement laws are in effect in 11 of 25 states expected to continue clinical abortion care after summer 2022, including Florida. These indicators for all states could serve surveillance and planning goals. For states like Texas that will completely ban abortion, the bypass petition percentage indicates minors whose access to abortion out of state could include needing a bypass. For states like Florida, the denial percentage indicates the risk of abortion denial for minors forced to travel there for care.