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Cusack -
Parents, not government, should raise children. I voted against parental notification because the government can not and should not legislate family values. The decision to bring a child into this world should involve parents, family members, and doctors, but certainly not politicians.
Nothing in current law prohibits families from discussing the impact of a minor’s pregnancy. In fact, 90% of minors under the age of sixteen who seek to terminate their pregnancies bring at least one parent with them. It is the other 10% of minors that I am worried about. Very simply, this bill does not provide adequate safeguards for minors pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or minors with health or life-threatening risks. Children in other states have been killed by abusive families without these protections, and I refuse to support a bill that could lead to similar consequences in Florida.
I truly believe that decisions involving families and their doctors should not involve government, and that is why I cannot support this bill.
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Henriquez -
Since I was blessed by my constituents to be a member of this great Florida House of Representatives in 1998, I have been a steadfast proponent of parental notification. Unfortunately, today I voted against HJR 1 that would allow a vote to enact a constitutional mandate to enact parental notification in this State. In concept and in substance I agree with this resolution, however the proposed amendment lacks judicial bypass to protect the privacy rights of children that legitimately are in danger or are victims of incest or abuse. This in my mind is a fatal flaw in this piece of legislation and as a result I reluctantly cannot support this bill in this form. I want to reaffirm my support of parental notification. It is my belief that we will see this bill again from the Senate and that such judicial bypass language will be included. I will support it at that time. Should it pass in its present form I would expect to support the implementing bill if it is similar to the bill we passed and I voted for in 1999.
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Joyner -
Parents, not government, should raise children. I voted against parental notification because the government can not and should not legislate family values. The decision to bring a child into this world should involve parents, family members, and doctors, but certainly not politicians.
Nothing in current law prohibits families from discussing the impact of a minor’s pregnancy. In fact, 90% of minors under the age of sixteen who seek to terminate their pregnancies bring at least one parent with them. It is the other 10% of minors that I am worried about. Very simply, this bill does not provide adequate safeguards for minors pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or minors with health or life-threatening risks. Children in other states have been killed by abusive families without these protections, and I refuse to support a bill that could lead to similar consequences in Florida.
I truly believe that decisions involving families and their doctors should not involve government, and that is why I cannot support this bill.
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Kosmas -
In prior legislation I did support the notification to parents in the instance of a minor seeking an abortion. Under that legislation, we provided an opportunity for a minor who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest to seek a judge's waiver from notification. It also provided that life-threatening health issues for the minor could justify immediate medical attention based on a doctor's medical opinion. Without these safeguards for the minor in place, I cannot support this amendment. It is my belief that passage of this amendment could endanger the welfare and possibly the life of a minor. It should be noted that 90% of young minors who seek to end an unwanted pregnancy do seek the advice and counsel of their parents and are supported by their parents in their decision. Parents should continue to play this important role in the lives of their children. Our role as legislators should be to provide a safety net for those minors who cannot consult their parents for fear of consequences more detrimental than the ending of the pregnancy which may be a result of incest or rape.
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Machek -
I voted against the parental notification constitutional amendment, HJR1 because the bill in its current form does not provide adequate safeguards for minors who are victims of rape or incest. I do support parental notification in principal as it is a basic fundamental right for parents to be responsible and to care for their children. To be aware of decisions their daughters are making in regards to their emotional, physical and financial wellbeing is an integral part of a parent's responsibility, and parental notification will assist parents live up to that responsibility.
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Vana -
Because this bill has no provision for judicial bypass. it does not provide adequate safeguards for minors pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or minors with health or life-threatening risks. Children in other states have died without these protections, and I could not support a bill that could lead to similar consequences in Florida.
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Wiles -
I believe that the decision to bring a child into this world should involve family members, parents and doctors. In 1999, I supported legislation requiring parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion. Under that legislation, we provided an opportunity for a minor who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest to seek a judge’s waiver from notification. It also provided that a minor’s life-threatening health issues certified by a doctor could justify immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, this bill does not provide these necessary safeguards. It’s important to note that 90% of minors under the age of sixteen who seek to terminate their pregnancies bring at least one parent with them. Children in other states have been killed by abusive families without these protections. I refuse to support a bill that could lead to similar consequences in Florida.