On November 12, SB 404 (Stargel) was taken up by the Senate Health Policy Committee. In an effort to stall final consideration of the bill, fifteen amendments were filed by lawmakers who oppose the underlying measure. None of the amendments passed; however, the amendatory process and questions on the bill consumed the entire 90 minutes scheduled for the meeting. With time expiring, a vote on the bill could not be taken, and the bill was temporarily postponed. We expect the bill to be rescheduled for a future meeting of the committee.
SB 404 would require parents to provide written consent before a minor receives an abortion. A parent must consent to medical and surgical treatments for minors, including ear piercing and dispensing aspirin at school. However, this is not the case when a minor seeks an abortion. When a minor is pregnant the support of her family is crucial, regardless of whether she has an abortion, she chooses to parent that child, or she places that child for adoption.
HB 265 (Grall) has already passed its only committee of reference and is ready to be heard by the full House during the 2020 Legislative Session that begins in January.
Please continue to urge your Florida lawmakers to support this legislation that recognizes the unique role of parents in the lives of their children.
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