Florida Governor Signs Abortion Parental Notification Bill

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 30 May 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) on Wednesday signed into law a bill... (SB 1908) that will require doctors to notify the parents or legal guardians of minors seeking abortion at least 48 hours in advance of performing the procedure, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The law takes effect July 1, according to the AP/Sun-Sentinel (Hallifax, AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/26). The law, which the state Legislature approved earlier this month, will not require parental notification if the minor in question is married or has children or if an immediate abortion is necessary to prevent injury to or death of the minor. Under the law, minors could bypass notification if a judge determines that they are mature enough to make the decision on their own, that they are victims of abuse or that notifying a parent is not in the girl's best interest. The law also includes an amendment that will allow minors seeking judicial bypass to use a pseudonym (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 5/9). In a release issued by his office, Bush said it is important that parents are aware of when their children undergo surgical procedures, adding, "This not only ensures the safety of our children, but also strengthens the family unit by maintaining open dialogue between parent and child" (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/26).

Constitutional Amendment
The state Legislature in its last session approved a proposed constitutional amendment to allow such a law. The amendment (HJR 1), which Florida legislators approved as a ballot initiative in April 2004 and voters approved in November 2004, authorizes lawmakers to require that minors notify at least one parent or guardian before undergoing abortion. The measure was intended to overcome a 2003 Florida Supreme Court ruling that the state's parental notification law signed by Bush in 1999 violated minors' privacy rights. The law, which was never enforced because of legal challenges, would have required minors to notify a parent or legal guardian at least 48 hours before an abortion procedure (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/8).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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