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Florida Parental Notification Law Finally Passed After Two Decade Fight

TALLAHASEE, FL, May 27, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – After nearly two decades of wrangling between Florida’s courts, the legislature, voters and governors, a parental notification law, requiring that physicians inform parents that their minor daughter is scheduled for an abortion, was signed yesterday by Governor Jeb Bush. The law is set to go in effect July 1.

Over the years the law has suffered innumerable setbacks. Since 1989 it has been struck down twice by the Florida courts, and vetoed once by former Governor Lawton Chiles. Both claimed that the law violated a state constitutional privacy clause. A constitutional amendment making an exception to the privacy clause was passed by a 65-35 margin by Florida voters this past November.

During the most recent reading of the bill the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and abortion provider Planned Parenthood made a last ditch effort to put a stop to the law, hoping to overturn the vote on the constitutional amendment. Executive director of Planned Parenthood, Stephanie Grutman, justified their efforts, claiming “government can’t mandate good effective family communication.” The Florida Supreme Court threw out their motion.

Speaking about the law, Governor Jeb Bush stated “Before a child undergoes a surgical procedure of any kind, it is imperative that the parent or guardian is properly notified. This not only ensures the safety of our children, but also strengthens the family unit by maintaining open dialogue between parent and child.”

The law requires that the parents or guardians of girls 17 and younger are notified by phone at least 48 hours in advance, or by mail, at least 72 hours in advance. The law provides for five different exceptions, including ‘medical emergency’. Similar laws exist in all but six of the fifty states, although many of the states do not strictly enforce them.

JJ

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