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Abortion Bill Passes Committee, Ready For Senate Floor

An abortion waiting period bill passed its final committee test in Tallahassee on Monday and it's ready for a full vote in the Senate.

The legislation will require two trips to the abortion clinic, an initial consultation and then the procedure after the 24-hour waiting period. Opponents argued in testimony before the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee that will be a hardship on women with families and jobs or those who live far away. Committee member Jeff Clemens, a Democrat from Lake Worth, said no scientific study has ever supported a need for a waiting period.

"This is to me just a clear case of government intrusion and getting in between a woman and her doctor", said Clemens. "I don't believe in waiting 24 hours to trust women. I trust women today."

But the bill's sponsor, Republican Anitere Flores of Miami, said the studies she's seen show there are fewer abortion complications where waiting periods are required.

"The only people who have abortions are women", Flores said. "And so if I in my capacity can do something that will help them in their health, I will see that as a good thing."

Flores reluctantly allowed an amendment that would cancel the waiting period in cases of incest and rape that had been reported to the police. The house version of the bill is also awaiting a floor vote which could come as early as today.

WLRN.org