Judge Issues Stay on Two Provisions of Florida Abortion Law

On June 30, the day before it was scheduled to go into effect, a federal judge issued an injunction on two provisions of a law that establishes certain regulations for abortion clinics. HB 1411 was passed earlier this year by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott.

In June, Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging the constitutionality of the new law. FCCB supports the law, which includes a requirement that abortionists have admitting privileges or a transfer agreement with a nearby hospital, ensuring women seeking abortions receive the same level of care as those who undergo comparable procedures at outpatient surgical facilities. This provision of the law was not included in the legal challenge and went into effect on July 1.

The two provisions on hold are:

• A section of the bill preventing state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions
• A requirement that the state Agency for Health Care Administration inspect at least 50 percent of abortion-clinic patient records each year