Bills Require Parental Consent Prior to a Minor's Abortion

A parent must consent to medical and surgical treatments for minors, including ear piercing and dispensing aspirin at school. However, this is not the case when a minor seeks an abortion.

SB 404 by Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) and HB 265 by Representative Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) have been filed for the 2020 Legislative Session. If passed, these bills would require that a parent or legal guardian provide consent before a minor can undergo an abortion.
 
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld laws requiring parental consent prior to a minor's abortion, as long as the child can petition the court for a waiver in certain circumstances, such as when an abusive parent may be involved. The Florida Supreme Court, however, struck down a similar parental consent bill in 1989 citing concerns with the judicial bypass procedure. SB 404/HB 265 addresses the court's concern.

Click here to urge your Florida lawmakers to support parental consent prior to a minor's abortion (SB 404/HB 265). 

HB 265 (Grall) is scheduled to be heard in its first committee of reference, Health & Human Services, on Tuesday, October 22.