WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Florida Governor Rick Scott approved a bill today that revises requirements for licensed abortion clinics.
House Bill (HB) 1411 prohibits state money for any service by an organization that also provides abortions.
It will affect half a dozen clinics, including Planned Parenthood facilities that serve the poor under Medicaid and other federal programs.
It also revises the requirements for disposal of fetal remains and the criminal punishment for failing to comply in accordance with Florida statute.
The bill, which passed 76 to 40 in the Senate on March 9 and will take effect July 1, requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to develop and enforce rules for inspecting licenses of certain clinics.
The bill calls for certain organizations that provide abortion referral services or abortion counseling services to register with the agency, pay a specified fee and include certain information in advertisements, etc.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
