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On March 19, Governor Scott signed HB 41, codifying the Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program (FPSSP) in statute. 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.

Dismemberment Abortion On Thursday, March 1, HB 1429 (Grall) passed the House (72-42). This FCCB-supported measure would prohibit physicians from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion, a procedure conducted in the second-trimester that removes the body parts of an unborn child while the child is still alive. The companion bill in the Senate, SB 1890 (Mayfield), has not been heard in its committees of reference.

The State of Florida has appealed a January 9 ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that found a 2015 law requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion unconstitutional. Judge Lewis' decision made permanent a temporary injunction granted by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the law as a violation of privacy rights under the state's Constitution. The FCCB supported a reflection period prior to abortion through the legislative process.

On 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.

On February 1, the Judicial Committee of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) defeated (2-4) an FCCB supported proposal that sought to restore the privacy clause in Florida's constitution to its original intent. Proposal 22, sponsored by Commissioner John Stemberger, specifies a person has the right of privacy from governmental intrusion "with respect to privacy of information and the disclosure thereof."

The Constitutional Revision Commission (CRC) convenes once every 20 years to examine the Florida Constitution and propose changes for voter consideration. Two CRC committees took action this week on proposals supported by the FCCB:

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.

In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother's womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security.

HB 41 (Toledo) passed the full House of Representatives (73-29) on Friday, January 12. Also this week, companion bill SB 444 (Bean) passed its second committee of reference, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (4-2). It will be heard in its last committee, Appropriations, on Thursday, January 18 at 4:00 pm.

A 2015 state law requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion was ruled unconstitutional this week by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis. Judge Lewis' decision makes permanent a temporary injunction granted by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the law as a violation of privacy rights under the state's Constitution.

In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother’s womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security.

A Tallahassee judge held a hearing regarding a Florida law passed in 2015 requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to abortion. In defending the law, the State cited research and the experience of post-abortive women who regret their abortions, staff from a pregnancy support service center who counsel women confronting unplanned pregnancies, and a physician who performs abortion pill reversals.

Both SB 444, sponsored by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), and its companion, HB 41 by Representative Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa), passed initial committees of reference in the weeks preceding the 2018 legislative session that begins January 9.

On October 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 36 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act by a vote of 237 to 189. The bill makes it unlawful to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater. Exceptions are included for cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. The legislation needs to be passed by the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to the president for his signature.

The 31st Annual Respect Life State Conference will be held October 20 & 21 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Weston. Due to Hurricane Irma affecting so many areas of the state, early bird registration and the special room rate at the Bonaventure Resort have been extended until Monday, October 9.

Last month, a Tallahassee judge allowed Florida officials more time to present their defense of a 2015 law requiring women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis gave the state an additional 60 days to make its case. In February 2017, the Florida Supreme Court approved a temporary injunction against the law, blocking it from taking effect in light of the pending legal challenge in Gainesville Woman Care v. State of Florida.

SB 1130, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday by its second committee of reference. However, time ran out before the bill was taken up by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. While this endangers its passage this session, the program is funded at current levels in proposed House and Senate budgets for the coming year.

While Catholic Days participants looked on, HB 969 (Toledo) was debated and passed (78-38) by the full House on Wednesday. The measure places the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN) in Florida statutes. The program has been operating since 2005, with funding in the state budget provided on an annual basis. FPCN is a network of pregnancy help centers that provide 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. For state fiscal year 2015-2016, the program served 24,184 clients.

On February 16, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court blocked a 2015 law that would have provided women 24-hours to reflect before having abortions. Justices, in a 4-2 decision, overturned an appellate decision and agreed with a Leon County circuit judge who issued a temporary injunction against the law. The majority opinion was written by Justice Pariente and joined by Chief Justice Labarga and Justices Lewis and Quince. Justices Polston and Canady dissented. Justice Lawson, who joined the court at the end of December 2016, did not participate in the ruling.

On January 24, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (238-183). FCCB is grateful for the members of the Florida Catholic Advocacy Network who responded promptly to our call to action. By contacting your Congressperson, you gave a voice to vulnerable children in the womb.