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February 9, 2018On Thursday, February 8, the Senate voted (21-12) to codify the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in Florida statutes. The full House passed the measure earlier this session (73-29) and the bill will go next to Governor Scott for his signature.
We are grateful for Catholic Days at the Capitol participants who advocated for this legislation and thank the FLCAN members who reached out to their senators to urge support for SB 444 (Bean) / HB 41 (Toledo).
Through a network of 106 pregnancy support centers across the state, FPSSP provides resources and services to pregnant mothers as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption. In addition to free pregnancy tests, local, non-profit centers offer counseling, referrals, material support, training, and pregnancy and childbirth education. Clients are eligible to receive services for up to one year after the child's birth.
FPSSP has been operating since 2005 and receives annual funding in the state budget. In 2016, the program was expanded to include women's wellness services. Establishing the program in statute better positions it in the annual budget process and requires the Florida Pregnancy Care Network through a contract with the Department of Health to provide oversight of background screenings, annual compliance monitoring, and informational materials.
