Florida Senate - 2011                                   SJR 1538
       
       
       
       By Senator Flores
       
       
       
       
       38-01719C-11                                          20111538__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing the creation of Section
    3         28 of Article I of the State Constitution to prohibit
    4         public funding of abortions and prohibit the State
    5         Constitution from being interpreted to create broader
    6         rights to an abortion than those contained in the
    7         United States Constitution.
    8  
    9  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         That the following creation of Section 28 of Article I of
   12  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   13  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   14  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   15  authorized by law for that purpose:
   16                              ARTICLE I                            
   17                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   18         SECTION 28. Prohibition on public funding of abortions;
   19  construction of abortion rights.—
   20         (a) Except as required by federal law, or to save the life
   21  of the mother, public funds may not be expended for any abortion
   22  or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of
   23  abortion.
   24         (b) This constitution may not be interpreted to create
   25  broader rights to an abortion than those contained in the United
   26  States Constitution.
   27         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   28  placed on the ballot:
   29                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   30                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 28                      
   31         PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC FUNDING OF ABORTIONS; CONSTRUCTION OF
   32  ABORTION RIGHTS.—This proposed amendment provides that public
   33  funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health
   34  benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion, except as
   35  required by federal law or to save the life of the mother.
   36         This proposed amendment provides that the State
   37  Constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to
   38  an abortion than those contained in the United States
   39  Constitution. With respect to abortion, this proposed amendment
   40  overrules court decisions which conclude that the right of
   41  privacy under Article I, Section 23 of the State Constitution is
   42  broader in scope than that of the United States Constitution.