TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After approving a limited exemption for victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking, a Senate committee Monday supported a bill that would require women to wait 24 hours before receiving abortions.
The 7-3 vote by the Fiscal Policy Committee readies the bill (SB 724), filed by committee Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, to go to the full Senate.
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State House members gave tentative approval Tuesday to the measure (HB 633), filed by Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, R-Mount Dora.
Supporters on the Senate committee said a 24-hour waiting period would allow women to make informed choices before having abortions.
"If she wants to have the abortion, she comes back the next day and has the abortion,'' Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, said.
But critics said the bill would interfere in the relationships between women and doctors and would create a barrier to abortions.
"This bill is about government intrusion,'' Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said.
Women seeking an abortion must already have an ultrasound and counseling on the procedure. Now lawmakers want to add a second visit and 24 hours between the ultrasound and an abortion.
"A lot of women are pressured into having this procedure," said Rep. Jennifer Sullivan. "Those women, especially that are my age that have their entire future ahead of them, perhaps their education, their career."
The measure said the visits must be in person despite a burgeoning telemedicine movement.
"I think that this procedure is very different than many others and that's why I would take this stand that I have," Sullivan said.
As initially written, even women who were raped, or victims of incest or human trafficking would have to wait -- that changed.
"They must present a physician's copy of a restraining order, a police report, a medical record or other court order or documentation," said Rep. Rene Plasencia.
"Your amendment would not cover those women, 68 percent, who do not report, who do not have that documentation," said Rep. Mark Pafford.
"You can't just walk in and say that you were raped, or say that you were a victim of domestic violence. You have to have the documentation," Plasencia said.
Sponsors made it clear they were only offering the rape, incest or human trafficking amendment to give the legislation a chance in the Senate. For many, the concession wasn't enough.
"We need to trust women and if they say they were a victim of it, we need to believe them," said Rep. Lori Berman.
An amendment to require men to wait 24 hours before having a vasectomy was withdrawn after it was ruled out of order.
The Senate committee approved an amendment that would provide a limited exemption to the waiting period for women who present copies of restraining orders, police reports, medical records or other court documents showing they are victims of rape, incest, domestic violence or human trafficking.
A final House vote could come on Wednesday.