TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A divided Senate committee Tuesday approved a plan that would increase regulations on abortion clinics and would delve into controversies about fetal tissue and the definitions of trimesters during pregnancy.
The bill (SB 1722), sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, quickly drew praise from Senate President Andy Gardiner after passing the Health Policy Committee in a 5-3 vote along party lines.
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A similar bill (HB 1411), filed by Rep. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, was approved Monday by the House Health Quality Subcommittee in a 7-6 vote.
As an example of the proposed regulatory changes, the Stargel bill would require the Agency for Health Care Administration to review 50 percent of patient records when conducting inspections of abortion clinics. Also, the bill would revamp definitions of trimesters amid ongoing legal disputes between Gov. Rick Scott's administration and some abortion clinics.
Those disputes stem from allegations by the Agency for Health Care Administration that the clinics performed second-trimester abortions without proper licenses. But the clinics contend AHCA changed definitions of trimesters.
The bill would define the first trimester of pregnancy to mean the time between fertilization through the 11th week of gestation, with the second trimester meaning from the beginning of the 12th week of gestation through the end of the 23rd week.
Among other things, the bill also would bar offers to sell or donate fetal remains -- an offshoot of a furor in recent months about videos released by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress.
Abortion opponents have alleged that the videos implicate Planned Parenthood in profiting from selling fetal tissue, but Planned Parenthood has vehemently denied the allegation.
Critics of Stargel's bill argued Tuesday that the wide-ranging proposals are aimed at restricting abortions and targeting Planned Parenthood.
"I believe we're handcuffing women and physicians and nurses who work with women on this very important issue,'' said Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood.
But Stargel said the state should hold abortion clinics and doctors to similar standards that it does other types of health services.
"I'm tired of the double standard when you're talking about abortion,'' she said.