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House Journal: Page 2161: Tuesday, May 2, 1995

 4     b.  The pregnant minor may participate in the court
 5   proceedings on the pregnant minor's own behalf.  The
 6   court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the pregnant
 7   minor who may be the responsible adult and the court
 8   shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the pregnant
 9   minor if the pregnant minor is not accompanied by an
10   adult and if the pregnant minor has not viewed the
11   video as provided pursuant to section 135L.2.  The
12   court shall advise the pregnant minor of the pregnant
13   minor's right to court-appointed legal counsel and
14   shall, upon the pregnant minor's request, provide the
15   pregnant minor with court-appointed legal counsel, at
16   no cost to the pregnant minor.
17     c.  The court proceedings shall be conducted in a
18   manner which protects the confidentiality of the
19   pregnant minor and all court documents pertaining to
20   the proceedings shall remain confidential.  Only the
21   pregnant minor, the pregnant minor's guardian ad
22   litem, the pregnant minor's legal counsel, and persons
23   whose presence is specifically requested by the
24   pregnant minor or by the pregnant minor's guardian ad
25   litem, or by the pregnant minor's legal counsel may
26   attend the hearing on the petition.
27     d.  Notwithstanding any law or rule to the
28   contrary, the court proceedings under this section and
29   section 135L.4 shall be given precedence over other
30   pending matters to ensure that the court reaches a
31   decision expeditiously.
32     e.  Upon petition and following an appropriate
33   hearing, the court shall waive the notification
34   requirements if the court determines either of the
35   following:
36     (1)  That the pregnant minor is mature and capable
37   of providing informed consent to the termination of
38   parental rights for the purposes of adoption of the
39   pregnant minor's child.
40     (2)  That the minor is not mature, or does not
41   claim to be mature, but that notification is not in
42   the best interest of the pregnant minor.
43     f.  The court shall issue specific factual findings
44   and legal conclusions, in writing, to support the
45   decision.
46     g.  Upon conclusion of the hearing, the court shall
47   immediately issue a written order which shall be
48   provided immediately to the pregnant minor, the
49   pregnant minor's guardian ad litem, the pregnant
50   minor's legal counsel, or any other person designated

Page 3

 1   by the pregnant minor to receive the order.
 2     h.  An expedited, confidential appeal shall be
 3   available to a pregnant minor for whom the court
 4   denies a petition for waiver of notification.  An

Iowa General Assembly

Index: House Journal (76th General Assembly: Session 1)

© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Sun Jan 14 21:05:02 CST 1996
URL: /DOCS/GA/76GA/Session.1/HJournal/02100/02161.html
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