Planned Parenthood Challenges New Abortion Law

On Thursday, June 2, Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HB 1411 passed earlier this year by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on March 25. FCCB supports the law which requires abortionists to 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. While this provision of the bill is not being challenged, the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, seeks a ruling and an injunction on three other parts of the law:

• 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
• A change to the state's definition of trimester

The judge will hear arguments in the case on June 29. The law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2016.