Vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist, Jr.

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Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill instituting a pre-abortion ultrasounds requirement and amending health care regulations.

Highlights:

-Requires an ultrasound to be performed by the physician who is to perform the abortion or by a person having documented evidence that he or she has completed a course in the operation of ultrasound equipment (Sec. 9). -Requires the person performing the ultrasound to allow the woman to view the live ultrasound images and explain the images prior to the woman giving informed consent to having an abortion (Sec. 9). -Specifies that these provisions do not apply if the woman is a victim of rape, incest, domestic violence, or human trafficking or if she has been diagnosed as having a condition that would create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function was she to delay terminating her pregnancy (Sec. 9). -Establishes that if the woman declines to view the ultrasound images, she shall complete a form acknowledging that she was given the opportunity to (Sec. 9). -Requires printed materials on abortion to be provided to the pregnant woman, if she chooses to view these materials, including a description of the various stages of development of the fetus (Sec. 9). -Requires that for each person admitted under the respite care program, the facility licensee must have a written abbreviated plan of care as well as a contract, and ensure that each resident is released to his or her caregiver (Sec. 31). -Specifies that a person receiving respite care is entitled to a total of 60 days in the facility within a contract year but that each single stay must not exceed 14 days (Sec. 31). -Requires each facility to maintain clinical records on each resident that are complete, accurately documented, readily accessible and systematically organized (Sec. 32). -Specifies that a fine of no more than $500 may be charged for certain violations, including, but not limited to (Sec. 64):

-Violating of any term or condition of a license; -Exceeding licensed capacity; and -Providing services beyond the scope of the license.

-Prohibits a federal, state, or local government from compelling a person to purchase health insurance or health services (Sec. 100). -Prohibits health insurance policies or group insurance policies purchased in whole or in part with state or federal funds through an exchange created pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide coverage for abortion except in cases of rape, incest or in cases where the mother's health is at risk (Sec. 101). -This is a substitute bill sponsored by House Health and Family Services Policy Council.

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