A Coolidge resident’s concerns about Arizona Proposition 139 highlighted potential implications for schools if the abortion rights measure passes, according to the discussion at the last school board meeting.
Mary Buckman argued the proposition’s broad language could affect how schools handle student pregnancies. The measure prohibits penalizing anyone who assists with obtaining an abortion and prevents interference with abortion access.
Under this framework, Buckman suggested school counselors, social workers, or staff who learn of a student’s pregnancy might be legally constrained from notifying parents, as this could be seen as “interfering” with abortion access. The proposition’s protection of those who “aid or assist” could potentially require school staff to help students access abortion services without parental involvement.
The proposition’s use of “healthcare professional” rather than “physician” could expand who can provide abortion-related services in school health settings. Additionally, its language establishing abortion as a “fundamental right” for any “individual” – rather than specifically adult women – raises questions about minors’ access and school health policies.
“Any counselor, any social worker, any principal, any staff who found that one of your students was pregnant, would under law have to initiate that and would not be able to invite the parents into that,” Buckman told the board.
While the proposition doesn’t explicitly address school policies or parental rights, its constitutional protections could potentially override existing parental notification requirements in school health services.
