Florida Governor Rick Scott approved a bill that cuts state funding to abortion clinics and imposed abortion restrictions.
Scott signed the House Bill 1441 which comfortably passed the legislature earlier this month and states that, "a state agency, a local governmental entity, or a managed care plan providing services under Part IV of Chapter 409 may not expend funds for the benefit of, pay funds to, or initiate or renew a contract with an organization that owns, operates, or is affiliated with one or more clinics that are licensed under this chapter and perform abortions."
Florida Family Policy Council president John Stemberger called the new law a "historic victory," in a statement released at the FFPC website.
"This event today is the culmination of years of work by countless pro-life members and advocates," said Bill Warren, Policy Director of the Florida Family Policy Council. "We applaud their commitment to this cause and commend the hard work of this group of bill sponsors."
The new law requires abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals for cases of emergency or any abortion complications, in addition to annual heath inspections. The rules on disposal of aborted fetal tissue are also tightened.
"Abortionists will finally be held to the same standard as all other physicians who perform invasive procedures in a nonhospital setting by the requirement to have admitting privileges or a transfer agreement with a nearby hospital," said Ingrid Delgado, associate for social concerns/respect life for the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The law states that the funds may be provided for abortions in case of rapes or incest, or to preserve the life of a pregnant woman from substantial or irreversible physical impairment.
Doctors are mandated to submit monthly reports to the state, which need to include the number of abortions performed and the reasons for the feticide.
Florida joins the ranks of 11 other states that have adopted the abortion restrictions. The law will be effected from July 1.
The Planned Parenthood of Florida denounced the government for signing the bill into law.
"For Rick Scott to prioritize political pandering over his own constituents' access to healthcare is more than cynical. It's shameful," Laura Goodhue, executive director of Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates said in a statement.
She also said that HIV rates would "skyrocket" and teenage pregnancies will be on the rise because women will have no access to state-funded abortions.
Similar abortion regulations in Texas are being challenged in the US Supreme Court, and the verdict is expected to be announced by the end of June.
Scott also signed 67 other bills including one that will expand the Right to Try Act, permitting usage of all doses of medical marijuana to terminal patients.
