State: Proposal for parental notice for abortions goes to Bush
Parents would be told when their minor daughters seek abortions under a bill the Legislature passed Friday.
A 96-14 vote in the House sent the measure (CS-HB 1659) to Gov. Jeb Bush, who signed a similar parental notice bill into law in 1999, only to have it blocked by the courts.
Lawmakers were widely expected to pass a new parental notice law this session after voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to remove the legal obstacles. But the House and Senate developed parental notice bills with significant differences.
The chambers worked out their differences Thursday and the Senate passed the bill 36-3, sending it to the House for its vote Friday.
The bill applies to girls younger than 18 who are not married and don’t already have children. Doctors would be required to notify a parent in person or by phone 48 hours before performing an abortion or, if that’s not possible, by certified mail 72 hours in advance.