During last weeks show we discussed Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Texas omnibus bill the Supreme Court is currently debating. Florida has followed in Texas’ footsteps and passed Senate Bill 1722, an anti-abortion bill that Governor Rick Scott is expected to sign. The bill which passed 25-15 in the Senate, would drastically change the state’s abortion laws.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It changes the length of trimesters. The second trimester would be defined by 12 weeks and the third trimester would be defined by 24 weeks.
- It would restrict government funding or medical payments to any clinic that owns, operates, or is affiliated with a clinic that performs abortions unless the clinic only performs abortions in the case of rape, incest or the well-being of the mother.
- Physicians who perform abortions must have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital
- It requires medical directors to submit monthly reports to the Agency for Health Care Administration, including the number of abortions performed, the reason why the abortion was performed and trimester the abortion was performed in.
Tomorrow Missy Wesolowski, Lobbyist with South, East and North Florida Planned Parenthood, will discuss the details of the bill at 10 am.
