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Florida abortion bill would require minors to obtain consent

Posted at 11:37 AM, Apr 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-08 11:38:25-04

MIAMI (AP) - Florida lawmakers are considering a bill that would require minors seeking an abortion to get consent from a parent or legal guardian.

More than half of U.S. states require consent from at least one parent or legal guardian for a minor to obtain an abortion. Florida, a state that provided more than 1,400 abortions to minors in 2017, is one of the few states that requires a parent or guardian to be notified before a procedure.

The bill, proposed by Vero Beach Republican Rep. Erin Grall, aims to flip Florida's status as a notification state to a consent state, where legal guardians have deciding power over an abortion.

The measure also calls for physicians to obtain notarized written consent and government-issued proof of identification from a parent or legal guardian before any procedure.