For the third time in four years, California voters are being asked whether doctors should be required to notify a parent or a guardian before performing an abortion on girls younger than 18.

WHAT IT DOES

Changes California Constitution to prohibit abortion for minor girls until 48 hours after physician notifies a parent or guardian.

Permits notification to certain adult relatives if doctor reports parent to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.

Provides exceptions for medical emergencies or parental waivers.

Permits courts to waive notice based on clear and convincing evidence of minor's maturity or best interests.

Mandates reporting requirements, including reports from physicians regarding abortions on minors.

Authorizes damages against physicians for violations.

Requires minor's consent to abortion, with exceptions.

HISTORY

Thirty-five states currently have parental involvement laws for abortion. Twenty-two require consent of one or both parents for a minor to obtain an abortion. Eleven require notification of a parent or guardian. Two require both parental notification and consent.

Proposition 4 is the product of the dogged determination ­ and money ­ of abortion rights opponents led by James Holman. Holman, who publishes a San Diego entertainment weekly and several Catholic newspapers, spent $1.1 million on Proposition 73 in 2005 and $2.6 million for Proposition 85 in 2006. Voters defeated both parental notification measures. Now Holman is spending big again to try to get a similar measure passed. Holman and Yes on 4 advocates are facing well-funded opponents ­ led by Planned Parenthood and affiliates ­ who raised nearly $10 million to defeat the two earlier initiatives.

SUPPORTERS

San Diego publisher James Holman

Sonoma winemaker Don Sebastiani

Former Assemblywoman Barbara Alby

Anti-abortion groups

WHAT THEY SAY

Parents have a right to know when a teen is undergoing a serious medical procedure such as abortion, and children are safer when a family member knows of their medical situation.

Requiring notification will protect girls by ensuring that abuse is reported and provide a vehicle for identifying sexual predators preying on minors and taking them for secret abortions.

The measure will result in a reduction in teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

OPPONENTS

Planned Parenthood

California Medical Association

National Organization of Women

California Teachers Association

WHAT THEY SAY

Proposition 4 will have little or no impact on teen pregnancies, which have been declining for a generation, and could subject doctors performing abortions to lawsuits for years, even decades, after the fact.

It will expose pregnant girls to family violence and cause them to delay medical care or counseling or seek dangerous, illegal abortions.

The measure does nothing to target sexual predators, and the real goal is to outlaw abortion or make it extremely difficult for doctors who perform them.

MONEY WATCH

SUPPORTERS of the initiative have raised more than $2 million, with more than $1.3 million coming from James Holman, publisher of a San Diego weekly and a chain of Catholic newspapers. Don Sebastiani of Sebastiani & Sons winemakers has donated more than $500,000. Knights of Columbus of New Haven, Conn., has donated $200,000.

OPPONENTS have raised $6 million, with more than $5 million from Planned Parenthood organizations and affiliates. Other contributors include the Democratic State Central Committee of California ($100,000) and the California Family Health Council ($80,000).

Source: California secretary of state, California Department of Public Health, Bixby Center, UC San Francisco