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(CNSNews.com) -- A bill requiring parental consent before a minor can have an abortion recently passed in the Florida State Legislature and now awaits the governor’s signature; Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he will sign the bill into law.
“This bill is a historic and landmark pro-life victory for many reasons,” said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, in a press release. “First, it will save the lives of countless babies born to pregnant minors. Second, it will protect parents’ rights by requiring them to be part of the conversation when a minor daughter becomes pregnant.”
“A child’s parents have a right to know [about her abortion], parents are the only ones who know her history, know what she’s allergic to,” Ingrid Duran, the State Legislative Director for National Right to Life, told CNSNews.com.
“Planned Parenthood and other organizations like Planned Parenthood would be okay with getting the teenager…a secret abortion and then putting her back into the place that got her there in the first place,” said Duran. “We don't know if her boyfriend is older. We don't know if she is maybe a victim of statutory rape.”
Abortion advocates claim that parental consent laws endanger teenagers in dangerous situations.
"Most young people involve parents or guardians but some at-risk youth just can't for fear of retribution and being kicked out of the house, and so they’re put into a situation where they’re forced to carry a pregnancy,” Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, told CNSNews.com.
The bill, HB 265, was fast-tracked through a single committee in the Florida House, it was then replaced with the Senate's version of the bill, SB 404, and then it was passed after an hour of heated debate, reported the Tampa Bay Times. The Florida Senate passed it on Feb 6.
House Democratic leader Kionne McGhee said the Democratic caucus would not take an official stance on the bill because four Democrat lawmakers support the bill, reported the Times. Two Republicans went against their party and voted no on the legislation.
On the Tuesday before the vote, Feb. 4, protesters from both sides gathered outside the Florida Capitol rotunda building in Tallahassee, Fla. Shouting and waving signs, 150 activists supporting Planned Parenthood clashed with 80 pro-life activists, reported the Tallahassee Democrat. Police had to separate both groups and cordon them to opposite sides of the rotunda.
"Planned Parenthood and the like always comes against any law that is a protective, life-affirming measure, or anything that saves the lives of unborn children,” Duran said.
“People will always have abortions,” said Planned Parenthood’s Goodhue. “They'll always need access because some people don't want to be pregnant or can't be pregnant. They may be young people that have been raped. We think that it is important that this procedure be accessible and safe. People may just turn to less safe alternatives, the rate of abortion won’t necessarily decline because of this law.”
If Gov. DeSantis signs the legislation into law, which is expected, SB 404 will go into effect on July 1.