Q&A of the Day – What’s in Florida’s Parental Consent Legislation?
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Today’s entry: The Greatest State of Florida is doing more to protect unborn babies. Parental Consent is on its way to become law. #ProLife
What’s actually in the legislation that’s passing?
Bottom Line: It’s true that we’re closing in on passing one the most significant reforms regarding abortion that many of us never could have envisioned necessary. Parental consent for a minor to be able to move forward with an abortion. Again, that this is even a conversation is somewhat intellectually shocking given the inability by a minor to open a bank account on their own, sign any legal documents or for that matter even obtain a health insurance policy. Yet somehow the pendulum had swung so far to the left on this issue – led by the true agenda of the “Pro-Choice” advocates – that here we are... The reason it’s “legal” for minors without consent was due to a Florida court ruling allowing for it. That took place about thirty years ago - right around the time you started to see the billboard campaign around parts of the state – especially on the turnpike in central Florida, illustrating how early a baby has a heartbeat.
In last year’s State of the State address by Governor DeSantis,he highlighted this issue as one of his twelve specifically defined priorities in the 2019 state session. Ten of the twelve passed but this wasn’t one of them. Undeterred,Governor DeSantis once again raised the issue in this year’s address and this time it does have momentum. So where are we with this proposal and what’s in it?
- Mandates that those under 18 have at least one parent consent to an abortion prior to the procedure
- Allows for a judge to rule on consent if a parent is unavailable
- Allows exceptions for medical emergencies
- Mandates babies who survive abortion be cared for by medical staff
It’s implausible to me how any of those conditions couldn’t be acceptable. Despite recent efforts by NOW and related pro-choice groups suggesting that 99% of women are relieved to have abortions or some such thing. The credibility of the samples aren’t legit. Cherry pick the people you ask and you’ll get the results you’re looking for. Multiple studies published in medical journals show that a minimum of 20% of girls/women have significant regret within two years. In all related studies the regret rate is highest with those who were youngest. Approximately 1,500 girls, and their babies, are affected by this proposed policy in Florida annually.
It’s passed Florida's full Senate and awaits a vote before the full Florida House which appears to be little more than formality. Last year the House passed the proposal and the Senate did not.