Florida Senate - 2020                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 404
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì594366FÎ594366                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                   Comm: WD            .                                
                  01/21/2020           .                                
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       The Committee on Rules (Gibson) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Between lines 236 and 237
    4  insert:
    5         (j)1. The Office of the State Courts Administrator shall
    6  develop and publish materials informing the public of the
    7  procedures for judicial waiver under this subsection. The
    8  materials must be published in hard copy format and posted on
    9  the Office of the State Courts Administrator’s website on the
   10  webpage provided in subparagraph 3. in an easily downloadable
   11  format. The materials must include information that is stated in
   12  plain, easily understandable language corresponding to a grade 5
   13  reading level and must include all of the following information:
   14         a. An explanation that a minor who is unable to obtain
   15  parental consent or a waiver of parental notification for an
   16  abortion may petition a circuit court to obtain a judicial
   17  waiver.
   18         b. A statement that any information that could be used to
   19  identify a minor who petitions the court for a judicial waiver
   20  is confidential and exempt from public disclosure, that judges
   21  and court staff must maintain that confidentiality, and that any
   22  personal identifying information contained in a court record
   23  must be kept confidential.
   24         c. A step-by-step guide detailing the procedures for
   25  obtaining a judicial waiver, from the initiation of a petition
   26  for judicial waiver to a court’s final ruling, and, if
   27  applicable, by county, an expected timeline for proceedings;
   28  where the minor can locate and obtain materials, physically or
   29  online; where and how a petition and any necessary paperwork may
   30  be filed; and a list of important deadlines.
   31         d. A list of each county’s clerk of the court, including
   32  addresses, office hours, and the direct contact information for
   33  a staff member who is familiar with the judicial waiver
   34  procedures in a particular circuit’s jurisdiction.
   35         e. Information about how to access the names and contact
   36  information for attorneys who provide services on a pro bono
   37  basis to minors seeking a judicial waiver.
   38         f. Information about the evidentiary standard that the
   39  court is required to use when deciding whether to grant or deny
   40  a judicial waiver, including a list of evidence the minor must
   41  provide to the court during the hearing.
   42         2. The Office of the State Courts Administrator must
   43  provide an adequate amount of published materials in hard copy
   44  to each clerk of the court and to each health care provider that
   45  offers abortion services which include all of the information
   46  required in subparagraph 1. regarding judicial waiver
   47  procedures.
   48         3. The Office of the State Courts Administrator must
   49  publish a clearly visible hyperlink on its website which directs
   50  the public to a stand-alone webpage. The webpage may not share a
   51  uniform resource locator (URL) with any other information and
   52  must contain all of the information required in subparagraph 1.
   53  The hyperlink to the URL must clearly identify that it provides
   54  information regarding the judicial waiver procedures for a minor
   55  who is seeking to obtain an abortion without parental consent or
   56  notification.
   57         4. At least annually, the Office of the State Courts
   58  Administrator must review and, if necessary, update the
   59  materials and information required under this paragraph for
   60  accuracy, including all contact information for the clerks of
   61  the court and the courthouses where a minor may file a petition
   62  for a judicial waiver.
   63  
   64  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   65  And the title is amended as follows:
   66         Delete line 40
   67  and insert:
   68         appointed counsel; requiring the Office of the State
   69         Courts Administrator to develop and publish certain
   70         informational materials in hard copy format and online
   71         regarding procedures for obtaining judicial waivers;
   72         prescribing the format and content of the materials;
   73         providing for the distribution of the materials;
   74         requiring the office to publish a clearly visible
   75         website hyperlink to a specified webpage containing
   76         certain information on the judicial waivers; requiring
   77         the office to annually review and update, as
   78         necessary, the informational materials, including
   79         certain specified information; requesting the Supreme
   80         Court to