Day 58 of the regular legislative session offered some meat for social conservatives in the Florida Senate, which on Wednesday readied two pro-life bills and a measure imposing drug tests on welfare recipients for final votes.
Under SB 1744, women seeking an abortion would be required to undergo an ultrasound, with the option of viewing the sonogram and listening to a description of the fetus. There are exemptions for cases of rape, incest, and to protect the health and life of the mother.
This bill provides that a woman have as much information as possible so she can make the best decision possible and not look back with regret, said Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico.
Under SB 1770, offered by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, minors seeking abortions would need to get parental notification in writing before undergoing the procedure.
This same minor cannot even be given a Tylenol or an Advil without the consent of the parent, yet this same minor can get an abortion without the consent of a parent, Hays said.
The bill prevents minors from traveling outside of their circuit court district to get a judicial bypass for the notification. An amendment offered by Sen. Arthenia Joyner that would allow for girls to seek bypasses in other circuit court districts failed to make it on the bill after a dramatic 19-20 vote.
Hays said he wanted to prevent judge shopping by minors.
I find it preposterous that a young lady can travel all the way from Escambia County to Duval County just to get an abortion, Hays said.
Although the amendment failed, it did garner support from female republicans like Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, and Sen. Elynn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, who wanted to protect pregnant teens from retribution at home.
Im a big supporter of parental notification, Bogdanoff prefaced. But in order to protect the privacy of these young women and to make sure they are not at risk when they go home, they need to be able to go outside their district. I am speaking not only as a mother and as a daughter, but as a woman, she added.
Another bill that helps to enact a campaign promise from Gov. Rick Scott is SB 556, which requires recipients and applicants for the states Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to undergo drug tests before getting funds. The test would be paid for by the state if a negative result is issued.
I think the example here is that when you take the taxpayer dollars ... one of the least things we can ask you to do is not to take drugs, said Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Cross Creek, who sponsored the bill.
The bill also resisted amendments offered by Democrats who complained that it would generate legal battles because it is not applied to everyone who receives government money, like college students on scholarships and private companies receiving tax breaks and incentives.
Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, wanted to place a requirement in the bill that only TANF recipients previously arrested on drug charges would need to undergo the drug test.
(Oelrich) has to realize that we are the government, and he as the former (Alachua County) sheriff must realize you cant go into someones house and say Im going to search your house, you need to have probable cause. Im asking the members of this Senate to allow us to have a rational basis, a reasonable basis for drug-testing, Siplin said.
All three bills are poised for a final vote Thursday.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
