Due to some last minute GOP disagreements and disappointments that culminated in a chaotic legislative overtime, the Florida Senate did not pass all the bills on the calendar for the last day of this legislative session. Among the bills that slipped through the cracks: an abortion-restricting bill sponsored by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami.
Language in Senate Bill 1978
defines the term “viability” as it relates to the termination of a pregnancy. Restricts the circumstances in which an abortion may be performed in the third trimester or after viability. Requires an abortion clinic to provide conspicuous notice on any form or medium of advertisement that the abortion clinic is prohibited from performing abortions in the third trimester or after viability. Prohibits a termination of pregnancy from being performed in a location other than a validly licensed hospital, abortion clinic, or physician’s office, etc.
The state House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview, was passed along with five other abortion-restricting bills late last month. The bill also included language that would have required all physicians to receive “ethics continuing education.” It also places many restrictions, penalties and mandates on clinic performing abortions.
