Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates 2014 Session: Bills to Watch

Oppose SB 918 by Sen. Flores/HB 1047 by Rep. Adkins Relating to Termination of Pregnancy SB 918 is another attempt by the Florida Legislature to insert itself into the most sensitive and private of personal decisions. This bill pushes a political agenda onto Florida women without regard for the unique circumstances that each woman may face during pregnancy. This bill dramatically narrows current health exceptions in a way that puts womens lives and health in jeopardy. HB 551 by Rep. Van Zant Relating to Abortion (Co-Sponsors) Reps. R. Rodrigues, Baxley, Gaetz, Hill, Pigman, J. Smith. HB 551 is a broad and vaguely written bill that inserts politics where it doesnt belong. This bill imposes politically motivated restrictions on a womans access to safe, legal abortion. HB 545 by Rep. Van Zant Florida for Life (Co-Sponsors) Reps. Baxley, Gaetz, Hill, Pigman, J. Smith. HB 545 is government interference at its worst and would ban safe, legal abortion in Florida. Women dont turn to politicians for advice about mammograms, prenatal care, or cancer treatments. And politicians should not be involved in a womans personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. Ultimately, decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy, or raise a child should be left to a woman, her family, and her faith, with the counsel of her doctor. Support SB 710 by Sen. Garcia/HB 869 by Rep. Murphy - Relating to Health Care (Co-Sponsors) Reps. Berman, Edwards, Rouson, Stewart. This bill creates the Healthy Florida plan that would allow up to 1 million Floridians to access private health care coverage. The legislation would allow adults up to 138% Federal Poverty Level to obtain affordable health insurance under the Healthy Florida plan by using available federal funding until 2017. It allows the legislature 2 years to create an alternative plan once full federal funding is unavailable. SB 348 by Sen. Abruzzo/HB 239 by Rep. Saunders - "Competitive Workforce Act" (Co-Sponsors) Sen. Bullard, Clemens, Margolis, Soto. Reps. Raschein, Berman, Castor Dentel, Clarke-Reed, Cruz, Danish, Dudley, Edwards, Fitzenhagen, Goodson, Hager, Hood, Hutson, Jones (S), Moskowitz, Murphy, Pafford, Pilon, Richardson, Rodrguez (J), Rouson, Stark, Stewart, Watson (C). These bills would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in public employment, public lodging establishments and public food service establishments. SB 220 by Sen. Thompson/HB 105 by Rep. Berman- Relating to Florida Civil Rights Act (Co-Sponsors) - Sens. Bullard, Joyner & Community Affairs Committee. Reps. Edwards, Moskowitz, Pafford, Saunders, Schwartz, Stark, Stafford, Torres, Watson (B), Civil Justice Subcommittee. Florida law does not currently protect women from discrimination on the basis of pregnancy. These bills will prohibit employment discrimination against pregnant women, along with several other forms of discrimination that pregnant women face. SB 206 by Sen. Joyner/HB 163 by Rep. Cruz Helen Gordon Davis Fair Pay Protection Act" (Co-Sponsors) Rep. Berman This proposed legislation would establish the Governors Recognition Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace and recognize the importance of equal pay for equal work for women. SB 68 by Sen. Joyner/HCR 8001 by Rep. Berman- Equal Rights for Men and Women (Co-Sponsors) Sens. Brandes,Bullard, Margolis, Sachs, Soto. Reps. Castor Dentel, Clarke-Reed, Cruz, Dudley, Edwards, Fullwood, Jones (S), Kerner, Murphy, Pafford, Pritchett, Rader, Raschein, Richardson, Rodrguez (J, )Rogers, Saunders, Schwartz, Slosberg, Stafford, Stark, Stewart, Torres, Waldman, Watson (C), Williams, Zimmermann. These bills would ratify the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to equal rights for men and women.

Last Updated: 2/21/14