The first of a series of public hearings on a proposed constitutional amendment to require parental notification before minors can get an abortion will be this week in Tampa.
The hearings by the House Judiciary Committee are intended to give Floridians a chance to address lawmakers on the issue. The first hearing is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Stabile Research Building Auditorium at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. Sign-up cards for speakers will be available about 1:30 p.m.
House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, R-Plant City, who supports the amendment, plans to be at the hearing, his spokeswoman said Monday. The House Judiciary Committee is chaired by Rep. Jeff Kottkamp, a Cape Coral Republican.