Bill banning sex reassignment surgeries for minors moves to Senate floor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Republicans are one step closer to passing a law to prohibit minors from receiving sex reassignment surgeries and prescriptions.
The proposal also sets guidelines for adults who want to go forward with sex reassignment surgeries.
A proposal, SB 254, passed its last Senate committee Thursday and now moves to the Senate floor for consideration.
Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, sponsored the legislation in an effort to let “kids be kids.”
“The fact remains, when it comes to children, these treatments are experimental,” he said. “And as I said in my opening remarks, I believe as lawmakers we have to draw the line when there are drastic life-altering procedures that could be given to children.”
Sex reassignment prescriptions and procedures for minors would be banned for the most part, allowing for some prescription exceptions.
The Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine would adopt emergency rules on the standards of practice for minors to continue to be treated with the prescriptions. It would apply if the treatment was commenced before, and is still active when the law goes into effect.
Regarding adults who want the sex reassignment procedures or prescriptions, they would need to consent in writing. They would receive forms from the Florida Department of Health.
On top of this, the physician prescribing or performing the procedure would need to be in the same room to inform the patient of the “nature and risks of the prescription or procedure” prior to the patient making a decision.
A health care practitioner and doctor who provides the treatments without receiving a voluntary informed consent commits a first degree misdemeanor.
It also prohibits state funds for these procedures or surgeries.
Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, put forth an amendment that deletes the requirement for a physician providing the sex reassignment treatments to be physically in the same room when meeting the requirements relating to informed consent.
“So if it’s about the children, then of course I think we should leave it as that but I think adults are wise enough to make the decision for themselves and we shouldn’t be taking that type of treatment away from them, especially if they’re looking to do it through telehealth,” he said.
The amendment failed.
Florida medical boards had approved a rule in February that prohibited minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery to treat gender dysphoria. The rule went into effect in March.
