Governor Signs Grieving Families Act into Law

On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, Governor Rick Scott signed into law an FCCB-supported measure that would allow parents whose pregnancies result in miscarriage to request nonviable birth certificates from the Department of Health. The bill (HB 101), sponsored by Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, and Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, is called the "Grieving Families Act." Parents can seek certificates of nonviable birth for babies lost after the 9th week but before completion of the 20th week of gestation. Currently, certificates of birth are available for stillborn children after 20 weeks gestational age.

Scott also signed an accompanying bill (HB 103), which provides that certain information included in nonviable birth records is confidential and exempt from public records requirements.