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House Passes Parental Consent Prior to a Minor's Abortion
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Rep. Erin Grall (District 54, Vero Beach) on the floor of the Florida House.
HB 1335 (Grall) would require that a parent or legal guardian provide consent before a minor can undergo an abortion. Parental consent is required for medical and surgical interventions for minors including ear piercing and dispensing aspirin at school. However, this is not the case when a minor seeks an abortion. The bill contains a provision that would allow the minor to petition the court for a waiver when parental abuse may be of concern.
After more than three hours of questions and debate, HB 1335 was passed by the full House (69-44) late Wednesday evening. "Parents have the unique ability to be able to talk to their children about the joys [and] the burdens of parenthood, to consider the options of adoption, and to understand the real consequences of what it is to end a life," said Rep. Grall during her close on the bill.
The Senate companion bill, SB 1774 (Stargel), has passed its first committee of reference. Procedurally, it faces challenges before final passage.
We thank our FLCAN subscribers who took action and urged their legislators to support these good bills that seek to ensure parental involvement in their child's permanent, life-altering decision. |
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State Immigration Enforcement Bills Head to Full House and Senate
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Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate for social concerns/respect life, testifies on HB 527 during the House Judiciary Committee meeting.
HB 527 (Byrd) and SB 168 (Gruters) passed their final committees of reference, House Judiciary (12-6) and Senate Rules (9-8). We recognize that many state lawmakers are frustrated, as are we, that Congress has not effectively addressed needed immigration reforms. However, we oppose the unnecessary, piecemeal framework proposed in these measures.
No local law enforcement jurisdiction in Florida provides sanctuary to criminals - regardless of immigration status - or is in violation of federal law or department of justice policy. However, these bills go further than federal law requires by mandating that local law enforcement comply with all federal immigration detainer requests to hold individuals beyond the time they would otherwise be released.
Proponents of the measure have cited concerns with releasing immigrants who have committed violent crimes into our communities. If this is the case, the bills should be amended to reflect that intent. As currently filed, however, the bills would require the extended detention of every undocumented immigrant who U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suspects is deportable and is in the custody of local law enforcement for any reason - even those who have not been convicted of a crime.
We are grateful to our FLCAN members who urged their lawmakers to vote "no" on these state-level immigration bills. |
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Senate Appropriations Passes Parental Empowerment Measure
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SB 7070 (Education Committee) would create the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a new state-funded program for students from lower-income families to attend eligible non-public schools that meet their educational needs. The measure also increases educational opportunities for lower-income families who would otherwise be eligible to participate in the Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program by helping to reduce the current waitlist of 12,974 students. The bill goes next to the full Senate.
Companion measure, HB 7075 (Education Committee; Sullivan), is in the full House on second reading. |
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Juvenile Justice Reforms Pass Committee
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Florida transfers more children to the adult criminal justice system than any other state. 98% of those minors are transferred by the process of direct file.
Children who commit crimes should be held accountable for their actions in the system designed to work with juveniles - not in the adult system. However, as long as the state of Florida tries children as adults, its application should be limited. Additionally, placing youth in solitary confinement as a form of punishment can be harmful and traumatic.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice passed two FCCB supported measures this week that improve the current situation for youth in the criminal justice system.
SB 876 (Powell):
- Repeals mandatory direct file (the circumstances in which a state attorney is required to charge a child in adult court)
- Creates a due process hearing for children to petition the court to try them as juveniles after the state has filed intent to try the child in the adult system, and
- Houses minors in juvenile facilities, rather than adult facilities, pending the court's decision in the due process hearing
SB 624 (Montford) prohibits the use of solitary confinement of juveniles, with limited exceptions, in the Department of Corrections, county jails, and the Department of Juvenile Justice.
We thank the constituents of members of the committee who responded to our action alert and urged a 'yes' vote on these good bills. |
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April 18, 2019
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