Pregnancy Support Services Passes Final Committee in Senate

SB 444 (Bean), which formalizes the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in Florida statutes, passed its final committee of reference, Appropriations ( 12-6). The bill will now go to the full Senate. 

FPSSP is operated by the Florida Pregnancy Care Network of 106 pregnancy support centers that provides services such as counseling, referrals, material support, training, and pregnancy and childbirth education to pregnant mothers as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption. 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.

The full House passed ( 73-29) the companion measure, HB 41 (Toledo), last week.

Thank you to FLCAN members who reached out to their senators on the Appropriations Committee to urge support for pregnancy support services.