Pointing to recent comments made by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book has filed a bill aimed at preventing women from being charged with crimes after obtaining abortions.
A law signed by DeSantis in April would prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The law says "any person who willfully performs or actively participates in a termination of pregnancy" in violation of the law would face felony charges.
DeSantis, who is running for president, said last week it would not apply to women seeking abortions.
鈥淲e have no criminal penalty. 鈥� The penalties are for the physician,鈥� the governor said during an interview on 鈥淐BS Evening News.鈥�
DeSantis said the bill was aimed at medical providers.
鈥淚t is not for the women,鈥� he added.
The law would prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, except in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. It would permit abortions up to 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking.
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Book鈥檚 bill, filed for consideration during the legislative session that will begin in January, would add wording to say a criminal penalty 鈥渄oes not apply to the pregnant woman who terminates the pregnancy.鈥�
The bill (SB 34) 鈥渃apitalizes on the governor鈥檚 interpretation of this cruel and dangerous ban by clarifying and correcting Florida law to shield women from being criminalized or jailed over abortion,鈥� a news release issued by Book鈥檚 office said.
The six-week ban is contingent on a Florida Supreme Court ruling in a challenge to a 2022 law restricting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The six-week ban would go into effect if justices uphold the 15-week ban.
鈥淭he imprisonment of women, girls, sexual assault survivors, and their doctors through dangerous abortion bans is cruel and anti-freedom. The governor has said 鈥榯hat will not happen in Florida鈥� 鈥� but we鈥檙e not just going to take his word for it, we鈥檙e fighting to ensure it,鈥� Book, D-Davie, said in Friday鈥檚 release.
DeSantis鈥� comments also drew attention from other critics of the abortion prohibitions.
鈥淩on is asking us to 鈥榯rust him.鈥� Ladies, how do we feel about that?鈥� Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said in a post Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Copyright 2023 Health News Florida.
