{"id":554,"date":"2019-02-01T15:01:59","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T21:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tpmo.possumplayground.com\/?page_id=554"},"modified":"2019-07-23T15:43:50","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T20:43:50","slug":"laws-in-missouri","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.teenpregnancy-mo.org\/resources\/laws-in-missouri\/","title":{"rendered":"Laws in Missouri"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBecome a Member\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t

Below is a summary of laws in the state of Missouri as of July 1, 2019.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFamily Planning and Contraception\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPregnancy Testing and Prenatal Care\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSTI Testing\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAbortion Services\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRape and Sexual Assault\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdoption Laws\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSurrendering an Infant (Safe Haven Law)\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSexual Harrassment\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSexual Abuse\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncest\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSexual Health Education\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tContraception in Schools\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSex Trafficking\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSexting\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFamily Planning and Contraception\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

No law specifically requires parental consent for minors to obtain contraceptives; some physicians can and do prescribe them to minors without informing their parents, it is worth calling to find out first.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Plan B One Step emergency contraception became available without an age restriction or prescription. However, if you are unsure about certain pharmacies, it is best to call and find out if they provide emergency contraception first.<\/p>\n

For more information on emergency contraception and family planning in Missouri, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tPregnancy Testing and Prenatal Care\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any minor may consent to pregnancy testing and all other medical care related to pregnancy (excluding abortion).<\/p>\n

Many clinics do not require parental involvement, call and ask first. Physicians and other health care providers may (are not prohibited from or required to) inform parents. Title X clinics offer affordable and confidential family planning services, regardless of patient age. Title X providers encourage parental involvement in a young person\u2019s health care decisions, but do not require notification or consent from their parents.<\/p>\n

Anyone can purchase a pregnancy test at a store.<\/p>\n

For information on laws regarding pregnancy testing and prenatal care in Missouri click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

More information can also be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tSTI Testing\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any minor may consent to testing and other medical care related\u00a0 to STIs.<\/p>\n

Many clinics do not require parental involvement, call and ask first.<\/p>\n

For information on laws surrounding STI testing in Missouri, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tAbortion Services\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Minors must have written parental consent unless the minor is emancipated or a judicial bypass is granted<\/p>\n

There is a mandatory 72 hour waiting period in Missouri.<\/p>\n

A woman must receive state-directed counseling and information about abortion and then wait 72 hours before the procedure is provided. Counseling must be provided in person and must take place before the waiting period begins. \u00a0Thus, two separate trips to the facility are necessary.<\/p>\n

Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.<\/p>\n

A new law on abortion is being decided on in Missouri right now, the new law is scheduled to go into effect in August 2019.<\/p>\n

More information about Missouri abortion laws can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tRape and Sexual Assault\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Rape occurs if a person has sexual intercourse with another person who is incapacitated, incapable of consent, or lacks the capacity to consent, or by the use of forcible compulsion.<\/p>\n

This includes the use of a substances administered without a victims knowledge or consent which makes the victim physically or mentally impaired and incapable of consenting to sexual activity.<\/p>\n

Minor victims of rape or sexual assault may consent to\u00a0 a forensic medical examination.The hospital or physician conducting the exam must give written notification\u00a0 to a parent or guardian that the exam has occurred.<\/p>\n

Statutory Rape in Missouri<\/em><\/p>\n

Youth under age 14 cannot legally consent to sexual activity, thus making any sexual activity involving one or more people less than 14 statutory rape.<\/p>\n

Statutory rape also occurs when someone over age 21 has sexual contact with someone less than 17.<\/p>\n

For more information on rape and sexual assault laws in Missouri, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tAdoption Laws\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA child must be at least 48 hours old before a consent to adoption is valid. Once accepted by the court, the birth parents cannot change their minds and revoke the consent.
\nIf you sign an agreement with the adoptive parents for\u00a0 visitation or other privileges, think of this as a moral, not\u00a0 legal, agreement. If adoptive\u00a0 parents change their minds, it will be difficult if not impossible to enforce the agreement.\nBirth Father\u2019s Rights
\nIn Missouri, if the birth father cannot be located or refuses to sign the affidavit establishing the man as the baby\u2019s father, the man can add his name to the Putative Father Registry.\u00a0 This does not officially establish paternity, but it does establish a man\u2019s claim to be the father of a child. If a man registers before or within 15 days of his child\u2019s birth, he will be notified if there is an adoption proceeding involving the child. The adoption will then need his consent to continue.\n

Once the birth mother decides to put the child up for adoption, a diligent search will be done to locate the father.\u00a0 If he is found, he will have an opportunity to contest (object to) the\u00a0adoption.\u00a0 If the birth father gets involved in the\u00a0adoption\u00a0by objecting to it, the birth mother will have no ability to cancel the surrender\/consent or to regain parental rights.<\/p>\n

More information about Missouri adoption laws can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n

For more information on adoption in Missouri, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tSurrendering an Infant (Safe Haven Law)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Missouri Safe Haven law allows for anyone to anonymously surrender a baby up to 45 days old. The baby will be kept safe and placed for adoption. If no signs of abuse or maltreatment are present, no attempt to contact the birth parents will be made and no crime will have been committed. The baby must be left with an on-duty employee at any<\/p>\n