1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to abortion; creating the "Florida for |
3 | Life Act"; creating s. 390.0001, F.S.; providing |
4 | legislative findings regarding abortion; repealing s. |
5 | 390.011, F.S., relating to definitions; creating s. |
6 | 390.01113, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting |
7 | inducing, performing, attempting to perform, or assisting |
8 | in induced abortions; providing criminal penalties; |
9 | prohibiting inflicting serious bodily injury on a person |
10 | in the course of performing an abortion; providing |
11 | criminal penalties; providing enhanced criminal penalties |
12 | if the serious bodily injury results in death; prohibiting |
13 | operation of any facility, business, or service within |
14 | this state for the purpose of providing induced abortion |
15 | services; providing criminal penalties; prohibiting |
16 | termination of a pregnancy unless specified conditions are |
17 | met; requiring that a termination of pregnancy be |
18 | performed only by a physician; requiring that a |
19 | termination of pregnancy only be performed with voluntary, |
20 | informed consent; providing requirements for consent; |
21 | providing an exception for cases of medical emergency; |
22 | providing requirements for documentation of a medical |
23 | emergency; providing that violations may subject |
24 | physicians to discipline under specified provisions; |
25 | providing a standard of medical care to be used during a |
26 | termination of pregnancy performed while the patient's |
27 | fetus is viable; providing that the woman's life is a |
28 | superior consideration to the concern for the life of the |
29 | fetus and the woman's health is a superior consideration |
30 | to the concern for the health of the fetus when such life |
31 | or health concerns are in conflict; prohibiting a |
32 | physician willfully misrepresenting the gestational age or |
33 | stage of fetal development of a viable fetus in an entry |
34 | into any medical record and failing to use the prescribed |
35 | standard of care on a viable fetus; providing criminal |
36 | penalties; prohibiting experimentation on a fetus; |
37 | providing an exception; requiring that fetal remains be |
38 | disposed of according to specified standards; providing |
39 | criminal penalties; providing that provisions do not apply |
40 | to specified procedures; providing a civil cause of action |
41 | for violations; providing damages; requiring physicians |
42 | and certain personnel at a medical facility who learn that |
43 | a pregnant woman treated by the facility wishes to obtain |
44 | an induced abortion at the facility or that a woman |
45 | treated by the facility has had a termination of pregnancy |
46 | and the fetus was born alive and survives and such woman |
47 | does not wish to keep the child to provide the woman with |
48 | information concerning the availability of adoption; |
49 | providing that specified actions constitute compliance; |
50 | providing that violation of certain provisions by a |
51 | physician may be grounds for discipline under specified |
52 | provisions; providing rulemaking authority to the Agency |
53 | for Health Care Administration and the Department of |
54 | Health for specified provisions; repealing s. 390.0111, |
55 | F.S., relating to termination of pregnancies; amending ss. |
56 | 743.065 and 765.113, F.S.; conforming cross-references; |
57 | repealing s. 390.0112, F.S., relating to termination of |
58 | pregnancy reporting; repealing s. 390.01114, F.S., |
59 | relating to the Parental Notice of Abortion Act; amending |
60 | ss. 27.511 and 390.01116, F.S.; conforming cross- |
61 | references; repealing s. 390.012, F.S., relating to powers |
62 | of the Agency for Health Care Administration, rulemaking, |
63 | and the disposal of fetal remains; repealing s. 390.014, |
64 | F.S., relating to licenses and fees; repealing s. 390.015, |
65 | F.S., relating to application for license; repealing s. |
66 | 390.018, F.S., relating to administrative fines; repealing |
67 | s. 390.025, F.S., relating to abortion referral or |
68 | counseling agencies and penalties; repealing s. 782.30, |
69 | F.S., relating to the short title for the Partial-Birth |
70 | Abortion Act; repealing s. 782.32, F.S., relating to |
71 | definitions for the Partial-Birth Abortion Act; repealing |
72 | s. 782.34, F.S., relating to partial-birth abortion; |
73 | repealing s. 782.36, F.S., relating to exceptions to the |
74 | Partial-Birth Abortion Act; amending s. 39.001, F.S.; |
75 | providing legislative intent concerning adoption services |
76 | for women with unwanted pregnancies; requiring the Office |
77 | of Adoption and Child Protection to establish and manage a |
78 | statewide list of attorneys providing pro bono adoption |
79 | services for women with unwanted pregnancies who would |
80 | have selected abortion, if lawful, rather than adoption; |
81 | providing that all federal moneys received by the state as |
82 | a result of efforts made by the office shall only be spent |
83 | by the office; creating s. 390.01117, F.S.; providing that |
84 | the section takes effect only if s. 390.01113, F.S., is |
85 | declared unconstitutional or has its enforcement enjoined; |
86 | providing definitions; prohibiting termination of a |
87 | pregnancy after a fetus has been determined to be viable; |
88 | providing exceptions; requiring a determination of |
89 | viability for women in a certain week of pregnancy or |
90 | later before termination may be performed; requiring |
91 | recordkeeping; providing that determination of viability |
92 | and the performance of a required ultrasound may not be |
93 | done by a physician providing reproductive health services |
94 | at an abortion clinic; requiring that a termination of |
95 | pregnancy involving a viable fetus, when not prohibited, |
96 | be performed in a hospital or other medical facility; |
97 | providing a standard of medical care to be used during a |
98 | termination of pregnancy performed while the patient's |
99 | fetus is viable; providing that the woman's life is a |
100 | superior consideration to the concern for the life of the |
101 | fetus and the woman's health is a superior consideration |
102 | to the concern for the health of the fetus when such life |
103 | or health concerns are in conflict; prohibiting a |
104 | physician willfully misrepresenting the gestational age or |
105 | stage of fetal development of a viable fetus in an entry |
106 | into any medical record and failing to use the prescribed |
107 | standard of care on a viable fetus; providing criminal |
108 | penalties; providing that only a physician may perform a |
109 | termination of pregnancy; requiring voluntary and informed |
110 | written consent to a termination; providing requirements |
111 | for such consent; providing an exception for cases of |
112 | medical emergency; providing requirements for |
113 | documentation of a medical emergency; providing that |
114 | violations may subject physicians to discipline under |
115 | specified provisions; prohibiting experimentation on a |
116 | fetus; providing an exception; requiring that fetal |
117 | remains be disposed of according to specified standards; |
118 | providing criminal penalties; providing that no person or |
119 | facility is required to participate in the termination of |
120 | a pregnancy or be liable for such refusal; providing that |
121 | provisions do not apply to specified procedures; |
122 | prohibiting willfully inducing, performing, or assisting |
123 | in a termination of pregnancy procedure on another person |
124 | in violation of specified requirements; providing criminal |
125 | penalties; prohibiting inflicting serious bodily injury on |
126 | a person in the course of performing an abortion; |
127 | providing criminal penalties; providing enhanced criminal |
128 | penalties if the serious bodily injury results in death; |
129 | providing a civil cause of action for violations; |
130 | providing damages; requiring physicians and certain |
131 | personnel at a medical facility who learn that a pregnant |
132 | woman treated by the facility wishes to obtain an induced |
133 | abortion at the facility or that a woman treated by the |
134 | facility has had a termination of pregnancy and the fetus |
135 | was born alive and survives and such woman does not wish |
136 | to keep the child to provide the woman with information |
137 | concerning the availability of adoption; providing that |
138 | specified actions constitute compliance; providing |
139 | rulemaking authority to the Agency for Health Care |
140 | Administration and the Department of Health for specified |
141 | provisions; providing that rulemaking authority is |
142 | supplemental to other specified provisions; providing that |
143 | if the provision creating s. 390.01117, F.S., is declared |
144 | unconstitutional or has its enforcement enjoined, then the |
145 | repeal of s. 390.011, F.S., and the amendments to s. |
146 | 39.001, F.S., are void and of no effect; providing |
147 | legislative intent; creating s. 390.01118, F.S.; providing |
148 | that the section shall become effective only in the event |
149 | that s. 390.01113, F.S., is declared unconstitutional or |
150 | has its enforcement enjoined; providing legislative |
151 | findings concerning parental notice of abortion; providing |
152 | that this section supersedes s. 390.01114, F.S., in its |
153 | entirety unless it is found unconstitutional, in which |
154 | case s. 390.01114, F.S., shall apply; providing |
155 | definitions; requiring a physician performing or inducing |
156 | an abortion or a referring physician before the |
157 | performance or inducement of the abortion on a minor to |
158 | provide actual notice to the minor's parent or guardian; |
159 | providing for constructive notice if actual notice is not |
160 | possible; providing for requirements for actual and |
161 | constructive notice; providing exceptions to notice |
162 | requirement; providing for judicial waiver of notice; |
163 | providing legislative findings; specifying when judicial |
164 | waiver is available; requiring appointment of a guardian |
165 | ad litem for a minor seeing waiver; providing for |
166 | precedence of and timeframes for waiver proceedings; |
167 | providing that failure to rule within the prescribed |
168 | timeframe may be considered nonfeasance in office; |
169 | providing for a standard of proof; providing requirements |
170 | for orders in waiver proceedings; requiring written |
171 | transcripts; providing for expedited confidential appeals; |
172 | providing that a minor may not be assessed fees or court |
173 | costs; providing that a county is not required to pay |
174 | expenses of counsel for a minor; requiring an annual |
175 | report by the Office of the State Courts Administrator |
176 | concerning waiver proceedings; providing that if s. |
177 | 390.01113, F.S., is declared unconstitutional or has its |
178 | enforcement enjoined, specified statutory repeals and |
179 | amendments contained in this act are void and of no |
180 | effect; providing legislative intent; providing that s. |
181 | 390.0001, F.S., is severable from other provisions of this |
182 | act; providing an effective date. |
183 |
|
184 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
185 |
|
186 | Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Florida for Life |
187 | Act." |
188 | Section 2. Section 390.0001, Florida Statutes, is created |
189 | to read: |
190 | 390.0001 Legislative findings regarding abortion.- |
191 | (1) Consistent with the self-evident truths expressed in |
192 | this nation's Declaration of Independence dated July 4, 1776, |
193 | the people of the State of Florida declare and acknowledge that |
194 | all persons are endowed by their Creator with certain |
195 | unalienable rights, and that first among these rights is the |
196 | right to life. |
197 | (2) The Legislature finds that the Preamble to the |
198 | Constitution of the State of Florida contains the sovereign |
199 | peoples' acknowledgment of the Creator as the source of |
200 | constitutional liberty saying: "We, the people of the State of |
201 | Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional |
202 | liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our |
203 | government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, |
204 | guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and |
205 | establish this constitution." |
206 | (3) The Legislature of the people of the State of Florida |
207 | finds that all life comes from the Creator and begins at |
208 | conception. |
209 | (4) The Legislature further finds the ultimate sovereign |
210 | authority in every state of the United States of America resides |
211 | in the people and that fundamental to the governmental structure |
212 | ordained and established by the people in the Constitution of |
213 | the United States is the right of the people to self-government |
214 | as set forth therein and as further set forth in their |
215 | respective state constitutions. As the Supreme Court of the |
216 | United States has stated, "The government of the Union ... is |
217 | emphatically and truly, a government of the people. In form, and |
218 | in substance, it emanates from them." (McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 |
219 | U.S. 316, 404-405 (1819)). |
220 | (5) The Legislature finds that the United States |
221 | Constitution expresses no qualification for, or limitation on, |
222 | the ability of the states to protect life in a manner consistent |
223 | with the moral consensus of the people, and reflecting the |
224 | peoples' belief in a Creator, and respecting life as being a |
225 | divine gift of the highest value which is deserving of paramount |
226 | importance among all other unalienable rights expressed or |
227 | implied in the United States Constitution. |
228 | (6) The Legislature finds that once life begins the state |
229 | has a compelling interest in protecting the natural course of |
230 | its development from that moment through birth, as surely as |
231 | after birth. Any act of a person detrimental to an unborn human |
232 | life, when not necessary in defense of the life of the mother |
233 | bearing such unborn life, which unnaturally terminates that |
234 | life, is a deprivation of an unalienable right which the people |
235 | have the sovereign discretion to protect through laws enacted by |
236 | their respective legislatures. |
237 | (7) The Legislature finds that the United States Supreme |
238 | Court in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)("Roe"), and Planned |
239 | Parenthood of Southern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 |
240 | (1992) ("Casey"), declared that a woman's interest in having an |
241 | abortion is a liberty interest protected under the Due Process |
242 | Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States |
243 | Constitution. The Legislature also finds that to devise into the |
244 | United States Constitution a liberty interest in one person to |
245 | take the life of another when not necessary for defense of one's |
246 | life is repugnant to the principles expressed in the United |
247 | States Constitution as established and ordained by the people. |
248 | Personal liberty is not a license to kill an innocent life under |
249 | any provision of the United States Constitution. |
250 | (8) The Legislature finds that the United States Supreme |
251 | Court's decisions noted in subsection (7) and those which adhere |
252 | to them subordinate the unalienable right to life to a "liberty" |
253 | interest devised by man which is inconsistent with, and cannot |
254 | supersede, the right to life given the peoples' accepted source |
255 | of authority for all unalienable rights. A liberty right to |
256 | abortion denies the authority of the Creator in all matters of |
257 | life, and the people through the exercise of their right of |
258 | self-government have the sovereign authority to regard all human |
259 | life with the highest reverence. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in "A |
260 | Summary View of the Rights of British America" (1774), "The god |
261 | who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of |
262 | force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them." |
263 | (9) The Legislature finds that Casey and its proclaimed |
264 | reaffirmation of the "essential" holding of Roe should be |
265 | reviewed by the United States Supreme Court for many of the same |
266 | reasons the court found it necessary to review Roe when it |
267 | considered Casey. First, the passage of time has shown there |
268 | remains among the states doubt as to the meaning and reach of |
269 | the court's opinion in Casey. Second, state legislatures and |
270 | courts throughout the nation still lack adequate guidance as |
271 | they seek to address abortion regulations in conformance with |
272 | putative precedents interpreting the United States Constitution. |
273 | In addition, since the time Roe was decided, more information |
274 | has become known related to the factual assumptions which |
275 | motivated the court's decision that significantly call into |
276 | question the correctness of the Roe decision and the propriety |
277 | of perpetuating its essential holding through Casey. |
278 | (10) The Legislature finds that despite the court's |
279 | finding in Casey that it is "imperative to review once more the |
280 | principles that define the rights of the woman and the |
281 | legitimate authority of the State respecting ... abortion |
282 | procedures" (Casey at 845), that neither Casey nor its progeny |
283 | have adequately defined the constitutional scope of the |
284 | Legislature's authority to protect unborn human life to the |
285 | maximum extent allowed by law. |
286 | (11) The Legislature finds that nowhere in the lead |
287 | plurality opinion of Casey is there any expression of confidence |
288 | that Roe was correctly decided or that it assigned adequate |
289 | weight to the state's interest in protecting unborn human life, |
290 | but merely that Roe's "essential holding" had to be followed to |
291 | preserve the court's legitimacy. (See Casey at 867 and 869). |
292 | Further, the court expressed a lack of concern over adequately |
293 | determining a state's interest in protecting unborn human life |
294 | saying: "Even on the assumption that the central holding of Roe |
295 | was in error, that error would go only to the strength of the |
296 | state interest in fetal protection, not to the recognition |
297 | afforded by the Constitution to the women's liberty." (Casey at |
298 | 858). |
299 | (12) The Legislature finds that it is fundamentally unfair |
300 | to have the constitutionality of this state's laws determined by |
301 | balancing the state's interest in protecting unborn human life |
302 | against the liberty interest of a woman to terminate her |
303 | pregnancy when the United States Supreme Court's lead analysis |
304 | of the state's legitimate interest in protecting life reflects |
305 | indifference to the prospect that the state's life interest is |
306 | being undervalued. (See Casey at 853 and 858.) |
307 | (13) The Legislature finds that the value attributed to |
308 | human life from its beginning through to its end is a moral |
309 | value judgment for the people to decide in accordance with the |
310 | republican form of government established in the United States |
311 | Constitution and is not a matter which can be legitimately |
312 | removed by any branch of government from their sovereign |
313 | authority to decide within their respective states. |
314 | (14) The Legislature finds that the Constitution of the |
315 | United States does not vest in the United States Supreme Court |
316 | the power to determine moral questions on behalf of the citizens |
317 | of any state without their consent. Further, the Legislature |
318 | finds that the justices of the United States Supreme Court are |
319 | not qualified to determine, establish, or define the moral |
320 | values of the people of the United States and specifically for |
321 | the people of Florida. The Supreme Court's removal of moral and |
322 | political questions from the political power of the people to |
323 | determine, under color of constitutional adjudication, is a |
324 | violation of the peoples' right to self-government guaranteed |
325 | under the Constitution of the United States. (See Carter v. |
326 | Carter Coal, 298 U.S. 238, 295 (1936). |
327 | (15) The Legislature finds that the legal standard set |
328 | forth in Casey prohibiting legislation which places an "undue" |
329 | burden on a woman seeking an abortion denies protection to the |
330 | life of the unborn child which state legislatures should be |
331 | constitutionally entitled to protect. The legal standard of |
332 | Casey is arbitrary and subjective with no ascertainable |
333 | guidelines, leaving state legislatures to guess as to what |
334 | actions can be taken to grant unborn human life the full |
335 | protection of the laws. |
336 | (16) The Legislature finds that the legal standard set |
337 | forth in Roe and reaffirmed in Casey, which establishes |
338 | viability as the point after which the state may restrict |
339 | abortions if the law contains exceptions for pregnancies which |
340 | endanger a woman's life or health, provides inadequate guidance |
341 | for the state to enact meaningful and enforceable protections |
342 | for fetal life from the moment the state's interest in |
343 | protecting such life matures to state authority to lawfully |
344 | restrict abortions. Further, the Legislature finds that |
345 | "viability" as the demarcation line at which the state may act |
346 | to prohibit, restrict, or regulate abortions is an arbitrary |
347 | point in time with no basis in the United States Constitution. |
348 | (17) The Legislature finds that the application of the |
349 | health exception required to be included in post-viability |
350 | abortion regulations, as described in Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. |
351 | 179 (1973), inadequately protects the maternal health of women |
352 | seeking or obtaining post-viability abortions; fails to promote |
353 | the long-term physical, emotional, familial, and psychological |
354 | well-being of women obtaining abortions; and undermines the |
355 | state's interest in protecting viable fetal life. |
356 | (18) The Legislature finds that despite the recognition by |
357 | the United States Supreme Court in Roe and Casey that "the State |
358 | has legitimate interests from the outset of the pregnancy in |
359 | protecting the health of the woman and the life of the fetus |
360 | that may become a child" (Casey at 846, emphasis added), the |
361 | state's interest in protecting a life which "may become a child" |
362 | has proven illusory in the context of regulating abortion, in |
363 | that the purpose of an abortion procedure extends beyond the |
364 | termination of a woman's pregnancy and proceeds to the removal |
365 | of a dead or fatally injured fetus rather than the removal of a |
366 | live fetus from the womb while he or she still possesses any |
367 | meaningful chance of survival to "become a child." |
368 | (19) The Legislature finds that there have been |
369 | approximately 50 million human lives aborted in the United |
370 | States since the Roe decision. The Legislature further finds |
371 | that every life lost to abortion was sacred and of the highest |
372 | value. |
373 | (20) The Legislature finds that women with unwanted |
374 | pregnancies choose abortion for a variety of reasons which are |
375 | difficult, deeply personal, and highly emotional. The |
376 | Legislature categorically rejects the notion suggested by the |
377 | Supreme Court in footnote 54 of Roe that exclusion of women |
378 | seeking abortion from criminal prosecution implies a |
379 | contradiction with the granting full constitutional protection |
380 | for unborn human life. The Legislature reserves for itself the |
381 | right to determine what is in the public interest in regard to |
382 | assigning criminal liability for abortion and possesses |
383 | constitutional competence superior to any court's to make such |
384 | determination. |
385 | (21) The Legislature finds the jurisprudence of this state |
386 | and of the nation is such that it protects the lives of persons |
387 | guilty of the most wretched, atrocious, heinous, and brutal |
388 | crimes to a far greater degree than it permits protecting the |
389 | lives of absolutely innocent, yet unborn, human beings. Great |
390 | protections are established before the state may execute a |
391 | person convicted of a capital crime, while virtually nothing |
392 | exists to protect the life of an unwanted unborn child from a |
393 | personal choice of his or her mother not to complete the natural |
394 | course of her pregnancy. It has been noted by the United States |
395 | Supreme Court that underlying the Eighth Amendment's prohibition |
396 | against cruel and unusual punishment is "nothing less than the |
397 | dignity of man ... The Amendment must draw its meaning from the |
398 | evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a |
399 | maturing society." The court quoted a remark of Justice Stewart |
400 | in this regard: "Even one day in prison would be cruel and |
401 | unusual punishment for the 'crime' of having a common cold." |
402 | (Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002), quoting Robinson v. |
403 | California, 370 U.S. 660, 666-667 (1962)). The Legislature finds |
404 | that the dignity of man is also measured by the level of |
405 | protection afforded defenseless innocent life whose only "crime" |
406 | is to be unwanted by his or her mother or conceived at an |
407 | inopportune time or as an undesired gender. The Legislature |
408 | finds that by any standard of basic human decency, innocent and |
409 | defenseless human life is entitled to respect and meaningful |
410 | protection under the law. |
411 | (22) The Legislature finds that in the years following the |
412 | Roe opinion, the standard of decency of the people of this state |
413 | has evolved to such a degree that at this time they demand the |
414 | right to exercise their political power as guaranteed under the |
415 | United States Constitution and under the Constitution of the |
416 | State of Florida to enact legislation prohibiting unnecessary |
417 | abortion in Florida and providing penalties for violation of |
418 | such prohibition. Statistical information reflects that the |
419 | frequency of abortion is generally declining in Florida as well |
420 | as in other states across the nation. Recent Gallup polls |
421 | reflect significant changes in public opinion on abortion with a |
422 | majority of people, 51 percent, considering themselves "Pro- |
423 | Life" versus a minority of people, 42 percent, considering |
424 | themselves "Pro-Choice." In addition, state legislative efforts |
425 | across the country reflect a persistent and intensive effort to |
426 | offer more protection for life through a variety of proposals |
427 | and enactments including comprehensive abortion bans to become |
428 | effective in the event Roe is overturned. |
429 | (23) The Legislature finds that further evidence of the |
430 | evolving standards of decency concerning unborn human life is |
431 | found in the subsequent action taken by Norma McCorvey, formerly |
432 | known as Jane Roe, the appellant of the Roe v. Wade opinion. Ms. |
433 | McCorvey has changed her mind concerning the wisdom of the Roe |
434 | v. Wade opinion and filed a motion under Rule 60(b), Federal |
435 | Rules of Civil Procedure, with the district court in an effort |
436 | to have it revisit the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in |
437 | order to reverse its effect. (See McCorvey v. Hill, 385 F.3d |
438 | 846, (5th Cir. 2004)). In seeking relief, Ms. McCorvey submitted |
439 | "serious and substantial evidence" which went "to the heart of |
440 | the balance Roe struck between the choice of a mother and the |
441 | life of her unborn child." (See Judge Edith H. Jones, |
442 | concurring, McCorvey, supra at 850). |
443 | (24) The Legislature finds that it is axiomatic that the |
444 | Constitution of the State of Florida cannot provide less |
445 | protection for the right to life than that which is provided in |
446 | the United States Constitution and therefore this act could not |
447 | be properly declared unconstitutional under the State |
448 | Constitution if the right to life is protected to a greater |
449 | extent than the right of a woman to obtain an abortion when not |
450 | necessary in defense of her own life. |
451 | (25) The Legislature finds that the decision of whether or |
452 | not to have an abortion is a decision regarding whether a |
453 | pregnant woman will carry her unborn child through to a point in |
454 | time when there is a reasonable expectation that it will result |
455 | in the live birth of a child capable of sustaining life outside |
456 | the mother's womb with or without artificial support. Further, |
457 | the Legislature finds that the decision regarding having an |
458 | abortion is a separate and distinct decision from one concerning |
459 | whether or not the pregnant woman will keep and be a parent to |
460 | the child. |
461 | (26) The Legislature finds that adoption is a viable and |
462 | preferable alternative to abortion for women with unwanted |
463 | pregnancies. |
464 | (27) The Legislature finds that the United States Supreme |
465 | Court's jurisprudence on the minimum constitutional requirements |
466 | for statutes requiring parental notification of minors seeking |
467 | abortions lacks clarity and has provided this state with |
468 | inadequate guidance leaving its legislature to guess as to what |
469 | actions can be taken to grant full protection of the laws to the |
470 | fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the |
471 | care, custody, upbringing, and control of their children. (See |
472 | Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000)). Specifically, the |
473 | United States Supreme Court has failed to definitively address |
474 | whether judicial bypass provisions of the type in Bellotti v. |
475 | Baird, 443 U.S. 622 (1979), are constitutionally required for |
476 | one-parent notification statutes. |
477 | (28) The Legislature finds, based on data obtained from |
478 | the Office of the State Courts Administrator for Florida for |
479 | calendar years 2006, 2007, and 2008, that judicial waivers of |
480 | minors petitioning to obtain abortions without parental |
481 | notification have been granted at an average rate of 95 percent, |
482 | rendering its Parental Notification Act of 2005 virtually |
483 | meaningless and ineffective at providing parents with notice of |
484 | their minor's intention to seek an abortion. The Legislature |
485 | finds that the ineffectiveness of its parental notification |
486 | statute is due primarily, if not entirely, on the inclusion of a |
487 | judicial bypass provision which may not be constitutionally |
488 | necessary. |
489 | (29) The Legislature also finds that the ex parte nature |
490 | of judicial bypass provisions in parental notification statutes |
491 | deprives parents of minors of their fundamental right regarding |
492 | the care, custody, upbringing, and control of their children |
493 | without due process of law. |
494 | (30) The Legislature finds that it has long been the |
495 | public policy of this state that minors under 16 years of age |
496 | cannot lawfully consent to sexual intercourse with another |
497 | person. The Legislature further finds that the fact that a minor |
498 | is under 16 years of age and pregnant is sufficient cause to |
499 | warrant further investigation by appropriate law enforcement |
500 | agencies or the Department of Children and Family Services into |
501 | the commission of a crime against the minor. The Legislature |
502 | finds that without the knowledge that their minor child is |
503 | pregnant or is considering an abortion, parents may never learn |
504 | of the fact that their minor child has been the victim of a |
505 | crime and may forever lose the opportunity to report the crime |
506 | to the proper authorities. The Legislature further finds that |
507 | the present United States Supreme Court jurisprudence respecting |
508 | parental notification statutes impedes the state's interest in |
509 | prosecuting offenders committing sexual crimes against minors |
510 | and facilitates the destruction of evidence in connection with |
511 | such crimes. |
512 | (31) The Legislature urges the United States Supreme Court |
513 | to overturn Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), and Planned |
514 | Parenthood of Southern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 |
515 | (1992), without delay and return this moral and political |
516 | question back to the people to decide through their respective |
517 | legislatures consistent with the principles of the Constitution |
518 | of the United States as established and ordained by the people |
519 | of the United States and consistent with the principles of a |
520 | free society governed as a nation of laws and not as a nation of |
521 | men. |
522 | Section 3. Section 390.011, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
523 | Section 4. Section 390.01113, Florida Statutes, is created |
524 | to read: |
525 | 390.01113 Abortion unlawful; termination of pregnancies |
526 | circumstances authorized.- |
527 | (1) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
528 | (a) "Induced abortion" means a medically initiated |
529 | termination of a human pregnancy with the intent to kill a human |
530 | embryo or fetus which is not dying of natural causes. For |
531 | purposes of this paragraph, the term "medically initiated" |
532 | refers to the ingestion or administration of pharmaceutical |
533 | abortifacients by any means, surgical procedures, or use of any |
534 | device or instrument, as well as any combination thereof. |
535 | (b) "Medical emergency" means a condition that, on the |
536 | basis of a physician's good faith clinical judgment, so |
537 | complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to |
538 | necessitate the immediate termination of her pregnancy to avert |
539 | her death, or for which a delay in the termination of her |
540 | pregnancy will create serious risk of substantial and |
541 | irreversible impairment of a major bodily function or |
542 | unreasonably reduce the likelihood of successful treatment of a |
543 | life-threatening disease. |
544 | (c) "Patient" means the woman or minor upon whom an |
545 | abortion or termination of pregnancy is performed or induced. |
546 | (d) "Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter |
547 | 458 or chapter 459 or a physician practicing medicine or |
548 | osteopathic medicine in the employment of the United States. |
549 | (e) "Termination of pregnancy" means the termination of a |
550 | human pregnancy under circumstances not prohibited by this |
551 | section. |
552 | (f) "Viability" means that stage of fetal development |
553 | when, in the judgment of a physician based on the particular |
554 | facts of the case before him or her and in light of the most |
555 | advanced medical technology and information available, there is |
556 | a reasonable probability of sustained survival of the unborn |
557 | child outside his or her mother's womb with or without |
558 | artificial support. |
559 | (2) INDUCED ABORTION PROHIBITED.- |
560 | (a) Induced abortion for any purpose is unlawful. Any |
561 | person who induces, performs, attempts to perform, or assists |
562 | another in the performance of an induced abortion on another |
563 | person commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as |
564 | provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
565 | (b) Any person who during the course of performing an |
566 | induced abortion on another person inflicts serious bodily |
567 | injury on the person commits a felony of the first degree, |
568 | punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding |
569 | life as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
570 | (c) Any person who during the course of performing an |
571 | induced abortion on another person inflicts serious bodily |
572 | injury on the person which results in the death of the person |
573 | commits a life felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. |
574 | 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
575 | (3) OPERATING ABORTION SERVICES PROHIBITED.-A person who |
576 | operates any facility, business, or service from any location |
577 | within this state for the purpose of providing induced abortion |
578 | services commits a felony of the first degree, punishable by |
579 | imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life as provided |
580 | in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
581 | (4) TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.-A termination of pregnancy |
582 | may not be performed unless: |
583 | (a) Two physicians certify in writing to the fact that, to |
584 | a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the termination of |
585 | pregnancy is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant |
586 | woman; |
587 | (b) Two physicians certify in writing to the fact that, to |
588 | a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the termination of |
589 | pregnancy is necessary because to continue the pregnancy would |
590 | unreasonably reduce the likelihood of successful treatment of a |
591 | life-threatening disease of the pregnant woman; or |
592 | (c) A physician certifies in writing that a medical |
593 | emergency existed and another physician was not available for |
594 | consultation prior to the time necessary to perform the |
595 | termination of pregnancy. The physician's written certification |
596 | must clearly describe the medical emergency. |
597 | (5) PERFORMANCE BY PHYSICIAN REQUIRED.-No termination of |
598 | pregnancy may be performed at any time except by a physician. |
599 | (6) CONSENTS REQUIRED.-A termination of pregnancy may not |
600 | be performed or induced except with the voluntary and informed |
601 | written consent of the patient or, in the case of a mentally |
602 | incompetent patient, the voluntary and informed written consent |
603 | of her court-appointed guardian or, in the case of a minor |
604 | patient, notwithstanding s. 743.065, the voluntary informed |
605 | consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian. |
606 | (a) Except in the case of a medical emergency, consent to |
607 | a termination of pregnancy is voluntary and informed only if the |
608 | physician who is to perform the procedure or the referring |
609 | physician has, at a minimum, orally and in person, informed the |
610 | patient, or the court-appointed guardian if the patient is |
611 | mentally incompetent or a parent or guardian if the patient is a |
612 | minor, of: |
613 | 1. The nature and risks of undergoing or not undergoing |
614 | the proposed procedure that a reasonable patient similarly |
615 | situated may consider relevant to making an informed decision of |
616 | whether to terminate a pregnancy. |
617 | 2. The medical risks to the patient and fetus of carrying |
618 | the pregnancy to term. |
619 |
|
620 | Nothing in this paragraph relieves a physician of his or her |
621 | duty to disclose any other material fact a reasonable patient |
622 | similarly situated might consider relevant to making an informed |
623 | decision regarding the termination of her pregnancy. |
624 | (b) In the event a medical emergency exists and a |
625 | physician cannot comply with the requirements for informed |
626 | consent, a physician may terminate a pregnancy if he or she has |
627 | obtained at least one corroborative medical opinion attesting to |
628 | the medical necessity for emergency medical procedures and to |
629 | the fact that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the |
630 | continuation of the pregnancy would threaten the life of the |
631 | pregnant woman. In the event no second physician is available |
632 | for a corroborating opinion, the physician may proceed but shall |
633 | document reasons for the medical necessity in the patient's |
634 | medical records. |
635 | (c) Violation of this subsection by a physician |
636 | constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or |
637 | s. 459.015. Substantial compliance or reasonable belief that |
638 | complying with the requirements of informed consent would |
639 | threaten the life of the patient may be raised as a defense to |
640 | any action brought for a violation of this subsection. |
641 | (7) STANDARD OF MEDICAL CARE TO BE USED DURING VIABILITY.- |
642 | (a) If a termination of pregnancy is performed while the |
643 | patient's fetus is viable, no person who performs or induces the |
644 | termination of pregnancy shall fail to use that degree of |
645 | professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and |
646 | health of the fetus that such person would be required to |
647 | exercise in order to preserve the life and health of a fetus |
648 | intended to be born and not aborted. Notwithstanding the |
649 | provisions of this subsection, the woman's life shall constitute |
650 | an overriding and superior consideration to the concern for the |
651 | life of the fetus, and the woman's health shall constitute an |
652 | overriding and superior consideration to the concern for the |
653 | health of the fetus when such life or health concerns are in |
654 | conflict. For purposes of this subsection, health considerations |
655 | refer to medical judgment exercised in light of factors |
656 | exclusively regarding the physical well-being of the patient. |
657 | (b) Any physician who, once the matter of the fetus' |
658 | viability or nonviability has been determined within a |
659 | reasonable degree of medical probability, knowingly and |
660 | willfully misrepresents the gestational age or stage of fetal |
661 | development of a viable fetus in an entry into any medical |
662 | record and who fails to use the standard of care required under |
663 | paragraph (a) on any fetus determined to be viable commits a |
664 | felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. |
665 | 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
666 | (8) EXPERIMENTATION ON FETUS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION.-No |
667 | person shall use any live fetus or live, premature infant for |
668 | any type of scientific, research, laboratory, or other kind of |
669 | experimentation prior to or subsequent to any termination of |
670 | pregnancy procedure except as necessary to protect or preserve |
671 | the life and health of such fetus or premature infant. |
672 | (9) FETAL REMAINS.-Fetal remains shall be disposed of in a |
673 | sanitary and appropriate manner and in accordance with standard |
674 | health practices, as provided by rule of the Department of |
675 | Health. A person who fails to dispose of fetal remains in |
676 | accordance with department rules commits a misdemeanor of the |
677 | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
678 | 775.083. |
679 | (10) EXCLUSION FROM APPLICATION.- The provisions of this |
680 | section do not apply to the performance of a procedure that |
681 | terminates a pregnancy in order to deliver a live child or to |
682 | remove a dead or dying fetus whose demise was not the product of |
683 | an induced abortion. |
684 | (11) CIVIL ACTIONS REGARDING ABORTION; RELIEF.- |
685 | (a) Any person inducing, performing, or assisting in the |
686 | performance of an induced abortion prohibited under this section |
687 | is liable for damages as provided in paragraph (b). A cause of |
688 | action for damages under this subsection may be brought by the |
689 | patient or her spouse, if married, her estate if the patient is |
690 | deceased, or her parents or legal guardian if the patient is a |
691 | minor. Any waiver of liability for a person inducing, |
692 | performing, or assisting in the performance of an induced |
693 | abortion is void and unenforceable. |
694 | (b) In a civil action under this subsection, appropriate |
695 | relief includes: |
696 | 1. Monetary damages for all injury or harm, psychological, |
697 | emotional, and physical, occasioned by the violation. |
698 | 2. Damages equal to three times the cost of the induced |
699 | abortion. |
700 | (c) Notwithstanding any other law, an action for damages |
701 | under this subsection may be commenced within 30 years after the |
702 | date of the performance of the induced abortion. |
703 | (12) ADOPTION ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION.-Any physician or |
704 | authorized personnel of a medical facility authorized to treat a |
705 | patient who learns that a pregnant woman treated by the |
706 | physician or facility personnel wishes to obtain an induced |
707 | abortion at the facility or that a woman treated by the |
708 | physician or facility personnel has had a termination of |
709 | pregnancy at the facility under circumstances where the fetus |
710 | was born alive and survives and who does not wish to keep the |
711 | child shall provide the woman with information concerning the |
712 | availability of adoption for her unwanted child. Compliance with |
713 | this subsection may be accomplished by providing the woman with |
714 | the address and telephone number of the Office of Adoption and |
715 | Child Protection within the Executive Office of the Governor and |
716 | informing her of the existence of the statewide list of |
717 | attorneys available to provide pro bono legal services for |
718 | adoption maintained by that office. |
719 | (13) PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS.-Violation of |
720 | subsection (4), subsection (7), or subsection (8) by a physician |
721 | constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or |
722 | s. 459.015. |
723 | (14) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.- |
724 | (a) Except for subsection (9), the Agency for Health Care |
725 | Administration may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and |
726 | 120.54 to implement the provisions of this section. These rules |
727 | shall be for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of |
728 | women and unborn human life and for the purpose of securing |
729 | compliance with the requirements of this section and to |
730 | facilitate the enforcement of sanctions for those violations to |
731 | which administrative penalties apply. |
732 | (b) The Department of Health may adopt rules pursuant to |
733 | ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of |
734 | subsection (9). |
735 | Section 5. Section 390.0111, Florida Statutes, is |
736 | repealed. |
737 | Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 743.065, Florida |
738 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
739 | 743.065 Unwed pregnant minor or minor mother; consent to |
740 | medical services for minor or minor's child valid.- |
741 | (3) Nothing in this act shall affect the provisions of s. |
742 | 390.0111. |
743 | Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 765.113, Florida |
744 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
745 | 765.113 Restrictions on providing consent.-Unless the |
746 | principal expressly delegates such authority to the surrogate in |
747 | writing, or a surrogate or proxy has sought and received court |
748 | approval pursuant to rule 5.900 of the Florida Probate Rules, a |
749 | surrogate or proxy may not provide consent for: |
750 | (2) Withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures |
751 | from a pregnant patient prior to viability as described defined |
752 | in s. 390.01113(7) 390.0111(4). |
753 | Section 8. Section 390.0112, Florida Statutes, is |
754 | repealed. |
755 | Section 9. Section 390.01114, Florida Statutes, is |
756 | repealed. |
757 | Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section |
758 | 27.511, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
759 | 27.511 Offices of criminal conflict and civil regional |
760 | counsel; legislative intent; qualifications; appointment; |
761 | duties.- |
762 | (6)(a) The office of criminal conflict and civil regional |
763 | counsel has primary responsibility for representing persons |
764 | entitled to court-appointed counsel under the Federal or State |
765 | Constitution or as authorized by general law in civil |
766 | proceedings, including, but not limited to, proceedings under s. |
767 | 393.12 and chapters 39, 392, 397, 415, 743, 744, and 984 and |
768 | proceedings to terminate parental rights under chapter 63. |
769 | Private court-appointed counsel eligible under s. 27.40 have |
770 | primary responsibility for representing minors who request |
771 | counsel under s. 390.01118 390.01114, the Parental Notice of |
772 | Abortion Act; however, the office of criminal conflict and civil |
773 | regional counsel may represent a minor under that section if the |
774 | court finds that no private court-appointed attorney is |
775 | available. |
776 | Section 11. Section 390.01116, Florida Statutes, is |
777 | amended to read: |
778 | 390.01116 Public records exemptions; minors seeking waiver |
779 | of notice requirements.-Any information that can be used to |
780 | identify a minor petitioning a circuit court for a judicial |
781 | waiver, as provided in s. 390.01118 390.01114, of the notice |
782 | requirements under the Parental Notice of Abortion Act is: |
783 | (1) Confidential and exempt from s. 24(a), Art. I of the |
784 | State Constitution if held by a circuit court or an appellate |
785 | court. |
786 | (2)(a) Confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. |
787 | 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution if held by the office of |
788 | criminal conflict and civil regional counsel or the Justice |
789 | Administrative Commission. |
790 | (b) Paragraph (a) is subject to the Open Government Sunset |
791 | Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed |
792 | on October 2, 2015, unless reviewed and saved from repeal |
793 | through reenactment by the Legislature. |
794 | Section 12. Section 390.012, Florida Statutes, is |
795 | repealed. |
796 | Section 13. Section 390.014, Florida Statutes, is |
797 | repealed. |
798 | Section 14. Section 390.015, Florida Statutes, is |
799 | repealed. |
800 | Section 15. Section 390.018, Florida Statutes, is |
801 | repealed. |
802 | Section 16. Section 390.025, Florida Statutes, is |
803 | repealed. |
804 | Section 17. Section 782.30, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
805 | Section 18. Section 782.32, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
806 | Section 19. Section 782.34, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
807 | Section 20. Section 782.36, Florida Statutes, is repealed. |
808 | Section 21. Subsection (6) and paragraph (c) of subsection |
809 | (7) of section 39.001, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
810 | 39.001 Purposes and intent; personnel standards and |
811 | screening.- |
812 | (6) LEGISLATIVE INTENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF ABUSE, |
813 | ABANDONMENT, AND NEGLECT OF CHILDREN; ADOPTION SERVICES FOR |
814 | WOMEN WITH UNWANTED PREGNANCIES.-The incidence of known child |
815 | abuse, abandonment, and neglect has increased rapidly in recent |
816 | over the past 5 years. The impact that abuse, abandonment, or |
817 | neglect has on the victimized child, siblings, family structure, |
818 | and inevitably on all citizens of the state has caused the |
819 | Legislature to determine that the prevention of child abuse, |
820 | abandonment, and neglect shall be a priority of this state. In |
821 | addition, to provide assistance for women with unwanted |
822 | pregnancies who would have selected abortion, if lawful in this |
823 | state, rather than adoption as an alternative for their unborn |
824 | child, the Legislature has determined to offer such women, |
825 | through the provision of volunteer or pro bono legal services, |
826 | legal representation to accomplish an appropriate adoptive |
827 | placement for such newborn child. To further these ends this |
828 | end, it is the intent of the Legislature that an Office of |
829 | Adoption and Child Protection be established. |
830 | (7) OFFICE OF ADOPTION AND CHILD PROTECTION.- |
831 | (c) The office is authorized and directed to: |
832 | 1. Oversee the preparation and implementation of the state |
833 | plan established under subsection (8) and revise and update the |
834 | state plan as necessary. |
835 | 2. Provide for or make available continuing professional |
836 | education and training in the prevention of child abuse and |
837 | neglect. |
838 | 3. Work to secure funding in the form of appropriations, |
839 | gifts, and grants from the state, the Federal Government, and |
840 | other public and private sources in order to ensure that |
841 | sufficient funds are available for the promotion of adoption, |
842 | support of adoptive families, and child abuse prevention |
843 | efforts. |
844 | 4. Make recommendations pertaining to agreements or |
845 | contracts for the establishment and development of: |
846 | a. Programs and services for the promotion of adoption, |
847 | support of adoptive families, and prevention of child abuse and |
848 | neglect. |
849 | b. Training programs for the prevention of child abuse and |
850 | neglect. |
851 | c. Multidisciplinary and discipline-specific training |
852 | programs for professionals with responsibilities affecting |
853 | children, young adults, and families. |
854 | d. Efforts to promote adoption. |
855 | e. Postadoptive services to support adoptive families. |
856 | 5. Monitor, evaluate, and review the development and |
857 | quality of local and statewide services and programs for the |
858 | promotion of adoption, support of adoptive families, and |
859 | prevention of child abuse and neglect and shall publish and |
860 | distribute an annual report of its findings on or before January |
861 | 1 of each year to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of |
862 | Representatives, the President of the Senate, the head of each |
863 | state agency affected by the report, and the appropriate |
864 | substantive committees of the Legislature. The report shall |
865 | include: |
866 | a. A summary of the activities of the office. |
867 | b. A summary of the adoption data collected and reported |
868 | to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting |
869 | System (AFCARS) and the federal Administration for Children and |
870 | Families. |
871 | c. A summary of the child abuse prevention data collected |
872 | and reported to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System |
873 | (NCANDS) and the federal Administration for Children and |
874 | Families. |
875 | d. A summary detailing the timeliness of the adoption |
876 | process for children adopted from within the child welfare |
877 | system. |
878 | e. Recommendations, by state agency, for the further |
879 | development and improvement of services and programs for the |
880 | promotion of adoption, support of adoptive families, and |
881 | prevention of child abuse and neglect. |
882 | f. Budget requests, adoption promotion and support needs, |
883 | and child abuse prevention program needs by state agency. |
884 | 6. Work with the direct-support organization established |
885 | under s. 39.0011 to receive financial assistance. |
886 | 7. Establish and manage a statewide list of attorneys |
887 | providing pro bono adoption services for women with unwanted |
888 | pregnancies who would have selected abortion, if lawful in this |
889 | state, rather than adoption. |
890 | 8. Have deposited, directed, and budgeted in the full |
891 | amount for its use, in addition to funds that would have or are |
892 | otherwise budgeted for it, all moneys received by or otherwise |
893 | awarded to the state from the Federal Government, the United |
894 | States Treasury, or any other federal agency as a result of |
895 | efforts made by the office. |
896 | Section 22. Section 390.01117, Florida Statutes, is |
897 | created to read: |
898 | 390.01117 Termination of pregnancies.- |
899 | (1) APPLICATION.-This section is superseded by s. |
900 | 390.01113 and shall become effective only in the event that s. |
901 | 390.01113 is declared unconstitutional or has its enforcement |
902 | enjoined. In the event this section becomes effective, it shall |
903 | supersede s. 390.0111. |
904 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section and elsewhere in |
905 | this chapter, the term: |
906 | (a) "Abortion" means the termination of human pregnancy |
907 | with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to |
908 | remove a fetus which died of natural causes. |
909 | (b) "Abortion clinic" or "clinic" means any facility in |
910 | which abortions are performed. The term does not include: |
911 | 1. A hospital; or |
912 | 2. A physician's office, provided that the office is not |
913 | used primarily for the performance of abortions. |
914 | (c) "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care |
915 | Administration. |
916 | (d) "Department" means the Department of Health. |
917 | (e) "Hospital" means a facility as defined in s. |
918 | 395.002(12) and licensed under chapter 395 and part II of |
919 | chapter 408. |
920 | (f) "Physician" means a physician licensed under chapter |
921 | 458 or chapter 459 or a physician practicing medicine or |
922 | osteopathic medicine in the employment of the United States. |
923 | (g) "Viability" means that stage of fetal development |
924 | when, in the judgment of the physician based on the particular |
925 | facts of the case before him or her and in light of the most |
926 | advanced medical technology and information available, there is |
927 | a reasonable probability of sustained survival of the unborn |
928 | child outside his or her mother's womb with or without |
929 | artificial support. |
930 | (3) TERMINATION AFTER VIABILITY PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION.-No |
931 | termination of pregnancy shall be performed on any human being |
932 | when it has been determined, in accordance with subsection (4), |
933 | that the fetus is viable unless: |
934 | (a) Two physicians certify in writing to the fact that, to |
935 | a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the termination of |
936 | pregnancy is necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant |
937 | woman or avert a significant risk to her physical health; |
938 | (b) Two physicians certify in writing to the fact that, to |
939 | a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the termination of |
940 | pregnancy is necessary because to continue the pregnancy would |
941 | unreasonably reduce the likelihood of successful treatment of a |
942 | life-threatening disease of the pregnant woman; or |
943 | (c) The physician certifies in writing to the medical |
944 | necessity for legitimate emergency medical procedures for the |
945 | termination of pregnancy and another physician is not available |
946 | for consultation. The physician's written certification must |
947 | clearly describe the medical emergency. |
948 | (4) DETERMINATION OF VIABILITY.-No termination of |
949 | pregnancy may be induced or performed on any woman who is in the |
950 | 23rd week of pregnancy or later without first obtaining an |
951 | ultrasound from a physician to determine the stage of fetal |
952 | development. The physician shall estimate as accurately as |
953 | possible the stage of fetal development and shall indicate on |
954 | the patient's medical records the gestational age, length and |
955 | weight, and lung maturity of the fetus. The physician shall also |
956 | indicate on the patient's medical records whether, within a |
957 | reasonable degree of medical probability, the fetus is viable. |
958 | The determination of viability and the performance of the |
959 | ultrasound required under this subsection may not be done by a |
960 | physician who provides reproductive health services at an |
961 | abortion clinic. |
962 | (5) STANDARD OF MEDICAL CARE TO BE USED DURING VIABILITY.- |
963 | (a) A termination of pregnancy involving a viable fetus, |
964 | when not prohibited in accordance with subsection (3), must be |
965 | performed in a hospital or other medical facility capable of |
966 | providing lifesaving or life-sustaining medical services to the |
967 | viable fetus. |
968 | (b) If a termination of pregnancy is performed while the |
969 | patient's fetus is viable, no person who performs or induces the |
970 | termination of pregnancy shall fail to use that degree of |
971 | professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and |
972 | health of the fetus which such person would be required to |
973 | exercise in order to preserve the life and health of any fetus |
974 | intended to be born and not aborted. Notwithstanding the |
975 | provisions of this subsection, the woman's life shall constitute |
976 | an overriding and superior consideration to the concern for the |
977 | life of the fetus, and the woman's health shall constitute an |
978 | overriding and superior consideration to the concern for the |
979 | health of the fetus when such life or health concerns are in |
980 | conflict. For purposes of this section, health considerations |
981 | refer to medical judgment exercised in light of factors |
982 | exclusively regarding the physical well-being of the patient. |
983 | Violation of this subsection by a physician constitutes grounds |
984 | for disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or s. 459.015. |
985 | (c) Any physician who, once the matter of the fetus' |
986 | viability or nonviability has been determined within a |
987 | reasonable degree of medical probability, knowingly and |
988 | willfully misrepresents the gestational age or stage of fetal |
989 | development of a viable fetus in an entry into any medical |
990 | record and who fails to use the standard of care required under |
991 | paragraph (b) on any fetus determined to be viable commits a |
992 | felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. |
993 | 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
994 | (6) PERFORMANCE BY PHYSICIAN REQUIRED.-No termination of |
995 | pregnancy may be performed at any time except by a physician. |
996 | (7) CONSENTS REQUIRED.-A termination of pregnancy may not |
997 | be performed or induced except with the voluntary and informed |
998 | written consent of the pregnant woman or, in the case of a |
999 | mentally incompetent pregnant woman, the voluntary and informed |
1000 | written consent of her court-appointed guardian or, in the case |
1001 | of a pregnant minor, notwithstanding s. 743.065, the voluntary |
1002 | informed consent of the minor's parent or guardian. |
1003 | (a) Except in the case of a medical emergency, consent to |
1004 | a termination of pregnancy is voluntary and informed only if: |
1005 | 1. The physician who is to perform the procedure or the |
1006 | referring physician has, at a minimum, orally and in person, |
1007 | informed the pregnant woman, or the court-appointed guardian if |
1008 | the pregnant woman is mentally incompetent or a parent or |
1009 | guardian in the case of a pregnant minor, of: |
1010 | a. The nature and risks of undergoing or not undergoing |
1011 | the proposed procedure that a reasonable patient similarly |
1012 | situated may consider relevant to making an informed decision of |
1013 | whether to terminate a pregnancy. |
1014 | b. The probable gestational age of the fetus at the time |
1015 | the termination of pregnancy is to be performed. |
1016 | c. The medical risks to the woman and fetus of carrying |
1017 | the pregnancy to term. |
1018 | d. If an ultrasound has been performed and it reveals the |
1019 | sex of the fetus, she shall be advised of the fact that the sex |
1020 | of the fetus has been determined. The sex of the fetus may be |
1021 | disclosed only upon the request of the pregnant woman. |
1022 | e. All other factors, physical, emotional, psychological, |
1023 | and familial, relevant to the short-term and long-term well- |
1024 | being of the patient, including emotional and psychological |
1025 | impact relating to the loss of the life of a child. |
1026 | 2. Printed materials prepared and provided by the |
1027 | department have been provided to the pregnant woman, if she |
1028 | chooses to view these materials, including: |
1029 | a. A description of the fetus. |
1030 | b. A list of agencies that offer alternatives to |
1031 | terminating the pregnancy. |
1032 | c. Detailed information on the availability of medical |
1033 | assistance benefits for prenatal care, childbirth, and neonatal |
1034 | care. |
1035 | 3. The woman acknowledges in writing, before the |
1036 | termination of pregnancy, that the information required to be |
1037 | provided under this subsection has been provided. |
1038 |
|
1039 | Nothing in this paragraph relieves a physician of his or her |
1040 | duty to disclose any other material fact a reasonable patient |
1041 | similarly situated might consider relevant to making an informed |
1042 | decision regarding the termination of her pregnancy. |
1043 | (b) In the event a medical emergency exists and a |
1044 | physician cannot comply with the requirements for informed |
1045 | consent, a physician may terminate a pregnancy if he or she has |
1046 | obtained at least one corroborative medical opinion attesting to |
1047 | the medical necessity for emergency medical procedures and to |
1048 | the fact that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the |
1049 | continuation of the pregnancy would threaten the life of the |
1050 | pregnant woman. In the event no second physician is available |
1051 | for a corroborating opinion, the physician may proceed but shall |
1052 | document reasons for the medical necessity in the patient's |
1053 | medical records. |
1054 | (c) Violation of this subsection by a physician |
1055 | constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or |
1056 | s. 459.015. Substantial compliance or reasonable belief that |
1057 | complying with the requirements of informed consent would |
1058 | threaten the life or health of the patient may be raised as a |
1059 | defense to any action brought under this subsection. |
1060 | (8) EXPERIMENTATION ON FETUS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION.-No |
1061 | person shall use any live fetus or live, premature infant for |
1062 | any type of scientific, research, laboratory, or other kind of |
1063 | experimentation prior to or subsequent to any termination of |
1064 | pregnancy procedure except as necessary to protect or preserve |
1065 | the life and health of such fetus or premature infant. Violation |
1066 | of this subsection by a physician constitutes grounds for |
1067 | disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or s. 459.015. |
1068 | (9) FETAL REMAINS.-Fetal remains shall be disposed of in a |
1069 | sanitary and appropriate manner and in accordance with standard |
1070 | health practices, as provided by rule of the Department of |
1071 | Health. A person who fails to dispose of fetal remains in |
1072 | accordance with department rules commits a misdemeanor of the |
1073 | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
1074 | 775.083. |
1075 | (10) REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN TERMINATION PROCEDURE.- |
1076 | Nothing in this section shall require any hospital or any person |
1077 | to participate in the termination of a pregnancy, nor shall any |
1078 | hospital or any person be liable for such refusal. No person who |
1079 | is a member of, or associated with, the staff of a hospital, nor |
1080 | any employee of a hospital or physician in which or by whom the |
1081 | termination of a pregnancy has been authorized or performed, who |
1082 | states an objection to such procedure on moral or religious |
1083 | grounds shall be required to participate in the procedure which |
1084 | will result in the termination of pregnancy. The refusal of any |
1085 | such person or employee to participate shall not form the basis |
1086 | for any disciplinary or other recriminatory action against such |
1087 | person. |
1088 | (11) EXCLUSION FROM APPLICATION.-The provisions of this |
1089 | section do not apply to the performance of a procedure that |
1090 | terminates a pregnancy in order to deliver a live child or to |
1091 | remove a dead or dying fetus whose demise was not the product of |
1092 | an induced abortion. |
1093 | (12) PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION.- |
1094 | (a) Any person who willfully induces, performs, or assists |
1095 | in a termination of pregnancy procedure on another person in |
1096 | violation of the requirements of subsection (4), paragraph |
1097 | (5)(a), or subsection (6) commits a felony of the second degree, |
1098 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
1099 | (b) Any person who willfully induces, performs, or assists |
1100 | in a termination of pregnancy procedure on another person in |
1101 | violation of subsection (3) commits a felony of the first |
1102 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. |
1103 | 775.084. |
1104 | (c) Any person who willfully induces, performs, or assists |
1105 | in a termination of pregnancy procedure on another person in |
1106 | violation of subsection (3) which results in serious bodily |
1107 | injury to the person commits a felony of the first degree, |
1108 | punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding |
1109 | life as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
1110 | (d) Any person who induces, performs, or assists in a |
1111 | termination of pregnancy procedure on another person in |
1112 | violation of the provisions of this section which results in the |
1113 | death of the person commits a life felony, punishable as |
1114 | provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
1115 | (13) CIVIL ACTIONS REGARDING ABORTION; RELIEF.- |
1116 | (a) Any person inducing, performing, or assisting in the |
1117 | performance of an induced abortion is liable for damages as |
1118 | provided in paragraph (b). A cause of action for damages under |
1119 | this subsection may be brought by the patient or her spouse, if |
1120 | married, her estate if the patient is deceased, or her parents |
1121 | or legal guardian if the patient is a minor. Any waiver of |
1122 | liability for a person inducing, performing, or assisting in the |
1123 | performance of an induced abortion is void and unenforceable. |
1124 | (b) In a civil action under this subsection, appropriate |
1125 | relief includes: |
1126 | 1. Monetary damages for all injury or harm, psychological, |
1127 | emotional, and physical, occasioned by the abortion or by the |
1128 | failure to comply with the consent requirements of subsection |
1129 | (7). |
1130 | 2. Damages equal to three times the cost of the induced |
1131 | abortion. |
1132 | (c) Notwithstanding any other law, an action for damages |
1133 | under this subsection may be commenced within 30 years after the |
1134 | date of the performance of the abortion. |
1135 | (14) ADOPTION ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION.-Any physician or |
1136 | authorized personnel of a medical facility who learns that a |
1137 | pregnant woman treated by the physician or facility personnel |
1138 | wishes to obtain an induced abortion of a viable fetus at the |
1139 | facility under circumstances prohibited by this section or that |
1140 | a woman treated by the physician or facility personnel has had a |
1141 | termination of pregnancy at the facility under circumstances |
1142 | where the fetus was born alive and survives and who does not |
1143 | wish to keep the child shall provide the woman with information |
1144 | concerning the availability of adoption for her unwanted child. |
1145 | Compliance with this subsection may be accomplished by providing |
1146 | the woman with the address and telephone number of the Office of |
1147 | Adoption and Child Protection within the Executive Office of the |
1148 | Governor and informing her of the existence of the statewide |
1149 | list of attorneys available to provide pro bono legal services |
1150 | for adoption maintained by that office. |
1151 | (15) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.-Except for subsection (9), the |
1152 | Agency for Health Care Administration may adopt rules pursuant |
1153 | to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this |
1154 | section. These rules shall be for the purpose of protecting the |
1155 | health and safety of women and unborn human life. These rules |
1156 | are also for the purpose of securing compliance with the |
1157 | requirements of this section and to facilitate the enforcement |
1158 | of sanctions for those violations to which administrative |
1159 | penalties apply. The Department of Health may adopt rules |
1160 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the |
1161 | provisions of subsection (9). The rulemaking authority granted |
1162 | in this subsection is supplemental to the rulemaking authority |
1163 | provided in s. 390.012. |
1164 | Section 23. If section 22 of this act, creating s. |
1165 | 390.01117, Florida Statutes, is declared unconstitutional or has |
1166 | its enforcement enjoined, the repeal of s. 390.011, Florida |
1167 | Statutes, in section 3 of this act, and the provisions of |
1168 | section 21 of this act, amending section 39.001, Florida |
1169 | Statutes, shall be deemed to be void and of no effect, it being |
1170 | the legislative intent that these provisions would not have been |
1171 | adopted had the provisions of section 4 of this act, creating s. |
1172 | 390.01113, Florida Statutes, or section 22 of this act, creating |
1173 | s. 390.01117, Florida Statutes, not been included. |
1174 | Section 24. Section 390.01118, Florida Statutes, is |
1175 | created to read: |
1176 | 390.01118 Parental notice of abortion.- |
1177 | (1) SECTION SUPERSEDED.-This section is superseded by s. |
1178 | 390.01113 and shall become effective only in the event that s. |
1179 | 390.01113 is declared unconstitutional or has its enforcement |
1180 | enjoined. |
1181 | (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.- |
1182 | (a) The Legislature enacted s. 390.01114, the "Parental |
1183 | Notice of Abortion Act," in 2005 to implement s. 22, Art. X of |
1184 | the State Constitution. Section 390.01114(6) required annual |
1185 | reporting to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the |
1186 | Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of |
1187 | petitions filed seeking a judicial waiver of the act's notice |
1188 | requirements and on the timing and manner of disposal of such |
1189 | petitions. |
1190 | (b) Data collected in compliance with the reporting |
1191 | requirements of s. 390.01114(6) revealed that in 2006, 2007, and |
1192 | 2008 petitions seeking judicial waiver of that act's |
1193 | notification requirements were granted in over 94 percent of the |
1194 | cases in which a petition for judicial waiver was filed. |
1195 | (c) The Legislature finds that human life is precious and |
1196 | that a decision to have an abortion is among the most difficult |
1197 | decisions a person may make during her lifetime and one which a |
1198 | minor should not make alone. The Legislature further finds that |
1199 | s. 22, Art. X of the State Constitution embodies a public policy |
1200 | to protect the fundamental right of parents in the care, |
1201 | custody, and management of their minor children which includes |
1202 | providing an unmarried pregnant minor help and advice in making |
1203 | the very important decision of whether or not to bear a child. |
1204 | (3) APPLICATION.-This section supersedes s. 390.01114 in |
1205 | its entirety unless it is found unconstitutional, in which case |
1206 | s. 390.01114 shall apply in lieu of this section. |
1207 | (4) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term: |
1208 | (a) "Actual notice" means notice that is given directly, |
1209 | in person, or by telephone to a parent or legal guardian of a |
1210 | minor by a physician at least 48 hours before the inducement or |
1211 | performance of an abortion and documented in the minor's medical |
1212 | record. |
1213 | (b) "Child abuse" means aggravated child abuse, child |
1214 | abuse, or neglect of a child, as defined in s. 827.03. |
1215 | (c) "Constructive notice" means notice that is given in |
1216 | writing, signed by the physician, and mailed at least 72 hours |
1217 | before the inducement or performance of the abortion to the last |
1218 | known address of the parent or legal guardian of the minor by |
1219 | certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery |
1220 | restricted to the parent or legal guardian. After the 72 hours |
1221 | have passed, delivery is deemed to have occurred. |
1222 | (d) "Family member" means a parent, stepparent, sibling, |
1223 | persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently |
1224 | residing together as if a family or who have resided together in |
1225 | the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child |
1226 | in common regardless of whether they have been married. |
1227 | (e) "Medical emergency" means a condition that, on the |
1228 | basis of a physician's good faith clinical judgment, so |
1229 | complicates the medical condition of a pregnant woman as to |
1230 | necessitate the immediate termination of her pregnancy to avert |
1231 | her death, or for which a delay in the termination of her |
1232 | pregnancy will create serious risk of substantial and |
1233 | irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. |
1234 | (f) "Minor" means a person under the age of 18 years. |
1235 | (g) "Sexual activity" has the same meaning as provided in |
1236 | s. 800.04. |
1237 | (h) "Sexual exploitation" means allowing, encouraging, or |
1238 | forcing the minor to engage in prostitution as defined in s. |
1239 | 796.07 or a sexual performance as defined in s. 827.071. |
1240 | (i) "Unfit" means that the parents or legal guardian |
1241 | abused, abandoned, or neglected the minor, as those terms are |
1242 | defined in s. 39.01. |
1243 | (5) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.- |
1244 | (a) Actual notice shall be provided by the physician |
1245 | performing or inducing the abortion or by a referring physician |
1246 | before the performance or inducement of the abortion on a minor. |
1247 | Regardless of whether actual notice is provided by the physician |
1248 | performing or inducing the abortion or by the referring |
1249 | physician, the physician performing or inducing the abortion |
1250 | must affirm that actual notice has been provided. Before |
1251 | affirming that actual notice has been provided, the physician |
1252 | who performs or induces the abortion must receive a written |
1253 | statement of the referring physician certifying that the |
1254 | referring physician has given notice. If actual notice is not |
1255 | possible after a reasonable effort has been made, the physician |
1256 | performing or inducing the abortion or the referring physician |
1257 | must give constructive notice. Notice given under this |
1258 | subsection by the physician performing or inducing the abortion |
1259 | must include the name and address of the facility providing the |
1260 | abortion and the name of the physician providing notice. Notice |
1261 | given under this subsection by a referring physician must |
1262 | include the name and address of the facility where he or she is |
1263 | referring the minor and the name of the physician providing |
1264 | notice. If actual notice is provided by telephone, the physician |
1265 | must actually speak with the parent or legal guardian and must |
1266 | record in the minor's medical file the name of the parent or |
1267 | legal guardian provided notice, the phone number dialed, and the |
1268 | date and time of the call. If constructive notice is given, the |
1269 | physician must document that notice by placing copies of any |
1270 | document related to the constructive notice, including, but not |
1271 | limited to, a copy of the letter and the return receipt, in the |
1272 | minor's medical record. If actual notice is provided by |
1273 | telephone, the physician shall also send written notice |
1274 | confirming the actual notice provided by telephone to the last |
1275 | known address of the parent or legal guardian of the minor by |
1276 | certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery |
1277 | restricted to the parent or legal guardian within 48 hours after |
1278 | performing the abortion. |
1279 | (b) The notice required in paragraph (a) is not required |
1280 | if: |
1281 | 1. In the physician's good faith clinical judgment a |
1282 | medical emergency exists and there is insufficient time for the |
1283 | attending physician to comply with the notification requirements |
1284 | of this subsection. In the event an abortion is performed as the |
1285 | result of a medical emergency, the physician must document in |
1286 | writing in the minor's medical records the nature of the medical |
1287 | emergency that existed which preceded or necessitated the |
1288 | performance of the abortion and the reason the abortion |
1289 | procedure was necessary to avert the minor's death or otherwise |
1290 | avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment |
1291 | of a major bodily function of the minor. Subsequent to an |
1292 | abortion performed on a minor due to a medical emergency, the |
1293 | physician shall notify the minor's parent or legal guardian of |
1294 | the abortion within 24 hours after the abortion procedure. The |
1295 | physician performing the abortion who treated the minor's |
1296 | medical emergency shall provide the parent or legal guardian |
1297 | with a copy of the medical record documenting the reason the |
1298 | abortion was necessary as described in this subparagraph if |
1299 | requested by the parent or legal guardian. The Legislature finds |
1300 | that abortions performed pursuant to this exception are |
1301 | performed solely due to exigent circumstances arising from a |
1302 | bona fide medical emergency and are not performed on minors |
1303 | exercising a personal choice to obtain an abortion without |
1304 | parental notice. Therefore, no provision for waiver of the post- |
1305 | abortion parental notification required under this subparagraph |
1306 | is necessary, appropriate, or authorized. |
1307 | 2. The minor obtains a waiver of the notification |
1308 | requirement pursuant to subsection (6) and provides the |
1309 | attending physician with a certified copy of the court order |
1310 | granting the petition for waiver issued pursuant to that |
1311 | subsection. |
1312 | (c) Violation of this subsection by a physician |
1313 | constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under s. 458.331 or |
1314 | s. 459.015. |
1315 | (6) JUDICIAL WAIVER OF NOTICE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN.- |
1316 | (a) The Legislature finds that judicial waiver proceedings |
1317 | are conducted in a nonadversarial manner and that frequently the |
1318 | only person providing testimonial evidence to the court is the |
1319 | minor seeking the judicial waiver. The Legislature further finds |
1320 | that while the parent or legal guardian has a fundamental |
1321 | liberty interest in the rearing and raising of his or her |
1322 | children, that interest is not represented in these proceedings. |
1323 | The Legislature finds that the United States Supreme Court has |
1324 | approved parental notification statutes which provide for ex |
1325 | parte hearings without addressing the deprivation of the |
1326 | fundamental liberty interest of fit parents to rear and raise |
1327 | their children. This Legislature therefore accommodates such |
1328 | waiver proceedings in this subsection. The Legislature urges the |
1329 | United States Supreme Court to carefully reexamine the |
1330 | governmental intrusion into the parent-child relationship of |
1331 | such bypass provisions and the ongoing and routine denial of the |
1332 | fundamental liberty interest of parents without due process of |
1333 | law that its current jurisprudence has condoned but not |
1334 | specifically addressed with respect to one-parent notification |
1335 | statutes. |
1336 | (b) A minor may petition the circuit court in which she |
1337 | resides for a waiver of the notice requirements of subsection |
1338 | (5) under any of the following circumstances: |
1339 | 1. The minor is or has been married or has had the |
1340 | disability of nonage removed under s. 743.015 or a similar |
1341 | statute of another state, and the minor has provided to the |
1342 | court a certified copy of the marriage certificate, divorce |
1343 | decree, or court order showing removal of disability of nonage. |
1344 | A marriage annulment does not satisfy this exception to the |
1345 | notice requirements of subsection (5). |
1346 | 2. The minor's parents are or legal guardian is currently |
1347 | unaware of the pregnancy, and the minor or her sibling has |
1348 | previously been the victim of child abuse by a parent or legal |
1349 | guardian with whom she currently resides, regardless of whether |
1350 | the parent or legal guardian has been previously charged or |
1351 | convicted of child abuse. |
1352 | 3. The minor's pregnancy was the result of sexual activity |
1353 | with a family member or sexual exploitation by a family member. |
1354 | 4. It is in the minor's best interest to have an abortion |
1355 | without first seeking the advice and support of her parents or |
1356 | legal guardian. In making this determination there is a |
1357 | rebuttable presumption that it is in the minor's best interest |
1358 | to have the support and advice of her parents or legal guardian |
1359 | when deciding whether to have an abortion. The minor has the |
1360 | burden of overcoming the presumption by clear and convincing |
1361 | evidence that her parents are or legal guardian is unfit to |
1362 | offer advice, support, or guidance to the minor regarding the |
1363 | best course of action for her pregnancy. A finding that a |
1364 | minor's parents are or legal guardian is unfit may not be based |
1365 | solely on the testimony of the minor seeking the abortion. If |
1366 | the court finds the parents or legal guardian unfit under this |
1367 | paragraph, it must set forth specific findings of fact in |
1368 | support of that conclusion. |
1369 | 5. From the date of filing the petition, the minor is 190 |
1370 | days or less from reaching 18 years of age and has demonstrated |
1371 | that she is sufficiently mature to decide whether to have an |
1372 | abortion without any advice, support, or guidance from her |
1373 | parents or legal guardian. In determining whether the minor is |
1374 | sufficiently mature, the court must find that the following |
1375 | criteria have been proven: |
1376 | a. That neither of the minor's parents nor her legal |
1377 | guardian is currently aware of the pregnancy. |
1378 | b. That the minor understands the consequences of her |
1379 | decision to her and her unborn child. |
1380 | c. That the minor has given thorough and mature |
1381 | consideration of the alternatives to abortion. |
1382 | d. That the minor understands that the decision to have an |
1383 | abortion once acted upon is irrevocable and terminates a human |
1384 | life. |
1385 | e. That the decision of the minor to seek an abortion |
1386 | without notification to her parents or legal guardian is not the |
1387 | result of improper or undue influence of another person. For |
1388 | purposes of this sub-subparagraph, improper or undue influence |
1389 | may be found in circumstances, including, but not limited to, |
1390 | where another person who stands to monetarily benefit from the |
1391 | performance of an abortion has encouraged the minor's decision |
1392 | to have an abortion or discouraged the minor from considering |
1393 | alternatives, or any circumstance where there is a reasonable |
1394 | probability that, absent the influence of another person, the |
1395 | minor would not be seeking an abortion or seeking to avoid |
1396 | parental involvement in her decision. |
1397 | (c) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for a |
1398 | minor seeking a waiver under this subsection. The guardian ad |
1399 | litem shall maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings. The |
1400 | circuit court shall appoint legal counsel for a minor seeking a |
1401 | waiver under this subsection upon her request and at no cost. |
1402 | (d) Court proceedings under this subsection must be given |
1403 | precedence over all other pending matters as necessary to ensure |
1404 | that the court reaches a decision promptly. The court shall |
1405 | conduct a hearing, rule, and issue written findings of fact and |
1406 | conclusions of law within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays and |
1407 | Sundays, after the petition is filed, except that the 48-hour |
1408 | limitation may be extended at the request of the minor. The |
1409 | chief judge of the circuit shall be responsible for ensuring the |
1410 | assignment of the petition to a judge capable of complying with |
1411 | the time requirements of this paragraph. Failure of the assigned |
1412 | judge to rule within 48 hours shall not constitute an order |
1413 | granting or denying the petition but may be considered |
1414 | nonfeasance in office. Any petition not ruled upon within the |
1415 | 48-hour period shall be immediately forwarded to the chief judge |
1416 | of the circuit who shall issue a ruling within 24 hours after |
1417 | the expiration of the 48-hour period. The chief judge of the |
1418 | circuit shall report to the Judicial Qualifications Commission |
1419 | and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the |
1420 | President of the Senate the name of any judge assigned to a |
1421 | petition who fails to rule within the 48-hour period required |
1422 | under this paragraph. |
1423 | (e) The court may receive evidence on any issue of fact |
1424 | necessary to rule on the petition and may on its own motion |
1425 | examine and review public records, records of the Comprehensive |
1426 | Case Information System, and any other records which may be |
1427 | judicially noticed under s. 90.202. If the court finds that the |
1428 | minor has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that she |
1429 | qualifies for a waiver under paragraph (b), the court shall |
1430 | issue an order granting the petition for waiver. In cases where |
1431 | the waiver is granted pursuant to subparagraph (b)3., the order |
1432 | granting the petition shall include a finding that the minor is |
1433 | a victim of sexual activity with a family member or sexual |
1434 | exploitation by a family member. In cases where the court grants |
1435 | the petition pursuant to subparagraph (b)2. or subparagraph |
1436 | (b)3., the court shall forward a copy of such order to the |
1437 | Department of Children and Family Services. If the court finds |
1438 | that the minor has failed to establish her qualification for a |
1439 | waiver under paragraph (b) by clear and convincing evidence, the |
1440 | court shall deny the petition. All orders issued pursuant to |
1441 | this subsection shall indicate the minor's age. |
1442 | (f) A court that conducts proceedings under this |
1443 | subsection shall provide for a written transcript of all |
1444 | testimony and proceedings and issue written and specific factual |
1445 | findings and legal conclusions supporting its decision and shall |
1446 | order that a confidential record of the evidence and the judge's |
1447 | findings and conclusions be maintained as required under s. |
1448 | 390.01116. |
1449 | (g) An expedited confidential appeal shall be available, |
1450 | as the Supreme Court provides by rule, to any minor denied a |
1451 | waiver pursuant to this subsection. |
1452 | (h) No filing fees or court costs shall be required of any |
1453 | pregnant minor who petitions a court for a waiver of parental |
1454 | notification under this subsection at the trial or the appellate |
1455 | level. |
1456 | (i) No county shall be obligated to pay the salaries, |
1457 | costs, or expenses of any counsel appointed by the court under |
1458 | this subsection. |
1459 | (7) REPORT.-The Supreme Court, through the Office of the |
1460 | State Courts Administrator, shall report by February 1 of each |
1461 | year to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the |
1462 | Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of |
1463 | petitions filed under subsection (6) for the preceding year and |
1464 | the timing and manner of disposal of the petitions by each |
1465 | circuit court. |
1466 | Section 25. If section 4 of this act, creating s. |
1467 | 390.01113, Florida Statutes, is declared unconstitutional or has |
1468 | its enforcement enjoined, the statutory repeals and amendments |
1469 | contained in sections 5 through 20 of this act shall be deemed |
1470 | to be void and of no effect, and the text of any amended |
1471 | provisions shall revert to that in existence on the effective |
1472 | date of this act, except that any amendments to such text |
1473 | enacted other than by this act shall be preserved and continue |
1474 | to operate, it being the legislative intent that these |
1475 | provisions would not have been adopted had the provisions of |
1476 | section 4 of this act, creating s. 390.01113, Florida Statutes, |
1477 | not been included. |
1478 | Section 26. It is the intent of the Legislature that if |
1479 | any provisions of this act are held invalid, such invalidity |
1480 | shall not affect the validity of section 2 of this act, creating |
1481 | s. 390.0001, Florida Statutes, and to this end section 2 of this |
1482 | act, creating s. 390.0001, Florida Statutes, is severable from |
1483 | all other provisions of this act. |
1484 | Section 27. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |