TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new abortion law will remain blocked in the state -- for now. The governor's office has decided not to take action at the state level to put the law into effect.
There is no timetable on when the federal court could rule on the law.
Planned Parenthood estimated they’d lose around $500,000 thanks to a new abortion law passed this year by the Florida Legislature.
The law blocked state funds from going to clinics that provide abortions. Planned Parenthood challenged the law in June, and a temporary injunction was placed on it right before it was set to take effect July 1.
The governor’s office announced no state agencies would be appealing. Kim Diaz with Planned Parenthood called it a win for now.
“For us, this means that we’re going to be able to continue to provide high quality health care services to those communities that need it the most, to low income communities that, unfortunately, don’t have this constant access to reproductive health care,” Diaz said.
Gov. Rick Scott’s office said in a statement that he remains a pro-life governor, and that they’re awaiting a federal court’s decision on the issue.
State money already does not go toward providing abortions, but other health care programs could have been at a disadvantage because of the lack of funds.
“This money will still be funded, so this money that goes to STD testing and treatment, contraception services, to comprehensive sexual health education programs, all of that remains in place," Diaz said.
The statement from the governor’s office reads that state agencies wouldn’t be appealing to “avoid greater uncertainty while awaiting the court’s decision.”
Another part of the law that was temporarily blocked puts a hold on allowing an annual state inspection of clinic patients' medical records.