Democrat proposes Florida bill to ‘clarify’ abortion laws won’t penalize pregnant women
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Sen. Lauren Book, D-Davie, proposed legislation that aims to “clarify” that abortion restriction penalties in the state “do not apply to the pregnant woman who terminates the pregnancy.”
Book announced the filing after Gov. Ron DeSantis pointed out in a new interview with CBS that women will not be prosecuted for obtaining an abortion, should the operation take place after a given amount of weeks in violation of Florida law.
Currently, Florida’s six-week ban has not taken effect, pending a decision from the Florida Supreme Court on the validity of the 15-week ban. If that ban is upheld, the six-week ban takes effect.
“The imprisonment of women & girls through dangerous abortion bans is cruel and anti-freedom,” Book said. “The Governor has said ‘that will not happen in Florida’ — but we’re not just going to take his word for it, today I filed a bill to ensure it.”
The new bill’s language simply adds two provisions to Florida law that read, “This paragraph does not apply to the pregnant woman who terminates the pregnancy.”
The clarifications are added where Florida law outlines that violators of the abortion restrictions commit a third degree felony.
During the interview, DeSantis was pressed by CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell on whom the abortion law will aim to prosecute.
“The penalties are for the physician,” DeSantis said.
“Governor, I read the bill,” O’Donnell chimed in. “It says just this: it does include jail time and fines for quote, ‘any person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy.’”
“Right,” DeSantis replied. “That’s for the providers, that’s not for the women.”
“Is a woman not actively participating in the termination of her pregnancy?” O’Donnell asked.
“No,” the governor said. “She’s not a medical practitioner.”
“So, you are not for criminalizing women-?” she asked DeSantis.
“No, absolutely not, and that will not happen in Florida,” he said.
The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the state’s 15-week ban earlier in September.
