Topeka ? Abortion opponents in the Legislature have shifted their focus this year from seeking to ban some procedures to requiring more parental involvement in decisions by pregnant teen-agers.

“It’s partially a different tactic, but the goal hasn’t changed to reduce the number of abortions,” said Rep. Tony Powell, an anti-abortion leader in the Legislature.

Powell, R-Wichita, said the U.S. Supreme Court has limited states’ authority to restrict late-term abortions, including by ruling that any ban must provide an exception to preserve a woman’s health.

“They really have tied our hands. The pro-life community is looking at other issues to express our concern,” he said. “We want more parental involvement.”

In recent years, abortion opponents’ emphasis in Kansas was on banning or severely restricting what state law calls “partial-birth” abortion and other late-term procedures.

Last year, there was little movement unlike 2000, when the House twice passed such legislation and the Senate rejected it. Gov. Bill Graves said he doesn’t expect to get any bills this year restricting abortions.

This year’s change in tactics hasn’t diminished the concern of abortion rights advocates.

“They are always looking at ways to chip away at access. By focusing on minors, they are targeting the most vulnerable,” said Carla Mahany, lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment statistics show that 12,237 abortions were performed in the state in 2000. Of those, 103 were girls under 15, and 2,412 were age 15-19.

A 1992 law requires a minor to receive counseling prior to an abortion. Accompanying her must be a parent, guardian, or anyone at least 21 who isn’t associated with an abortion provider and has a personal interest in the girl’s well-being.

Kansans for Life is pushing legislation, which still is being drafted, to eliminate anybody except a parent or guardian from that equation.

“The 21-year-old could be the father of the child. It could be your new best friend you met three days ago,” said Joan Hawkins, Kansans for Life executive director.

While the law allows several options for counselors, such as a minister, Hawkins said such counseling often takes place at an abortion clinic.

“You need to have a parent or guardian there. When they go back the next day for the abortion, the train is rolling down the track,” Powell said.

Mahany said mandating a parent or guardian to accompany a girl for counseling is the same as requiring parental consent.

“We think it is great when a minor can bring her parent or guardian to the counseling session or clinic, but many can’t,” she said.

The law also says the abortion provider must notify a parent or guardian by mail about a minor’s intent for an abortion, but it doesn’t say how much advance notice there must be.

“The practical effect is the parent can be cut out of the loop,” Powell said.

Mahany sees a problem with advance notice to parents, arguing that anything taking up time for a minor seeking an abortion can be harmful.

“Additional delay can put her at additional risk,” Mahany said.

She said such a change could mean more minors going before a judge to get approval for an abortion absent parental permission something allowed if there is a compelling reason for not informing the parents.

“Many minors are fearful of the whole process and this adds to it,” Mahany said.

Hawkins said the law also allows an attending physician to declare a medical emergency to avoid the judicial proceeding. She said the law envisioned the family doctor would be the attending physician, but that the abortion provider often fills that role.

“There would be a third-party determination by the judge, who would be looking out for the best interest of the girl,” Hawkins.

Abortion rights supporters are leery of any tampering with the judicial procedure.

“We need to enforce the law. If we have doctors declaring an emergency when it’s not an emergency, we need to deal with that,” said Sen. David Adkins, R-Leawood.