Bill > S1722

This bill modifies Florida law regarding the termination of pregnancies by defining "gestation" as the development of an embryo or fetus from fertilization to birth and redefining the "third trimester" as the period from the 24th week of gestation through birth, with specific definitions for the first and second trimesters as well. It also revises requirements for the disposal of fetal remains, mandating compliance with specific state statutes and rules, and elevates the penalty for non-compliance to a first-degree misdemeanor. Furthermore, the bill prohibits state agencies, local governments, and Medicaid managed care plans from funding or contracting with organizations that perform abortions, with exceptions for abortions due to rape, incest, or medical necessity to preserve life or avert serious physical impairment, or for contracts existing before July 1, 2016, or for Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursements. Organizations providing abortion referral or counseling services will be required to register with the state, pay a fee, and include their registration number in advertisements, with exemptions for licensed facilities and healthcare practitioners referring a limited number of patients. The bill also mandates that facilities performing abortions undergo annual inspections, requires patient record inspections, and introduces new rules for clinics performing abortions after the first trimester, including requirements for hospital transfer agreements or physician admitting privileges, specific staffing and recovery room standards, and a minimum patient recovery time. Finally, it prohibits the advertising, purchase, sale, donation, or transfer of fetal remains obtained from an abortion for valuable consideration, making violations a second-degree felony.