Florida House OKs bill requiring parental abortion consent

Legislation that would require consent from a parent or guardian before a girl under 18 could obtain an abortion has passed the Florida House.

The GOP-led House voted 69-44 on Wednesday for the bill, which now moves to the Senate where a similar bill is pending.

The bill by Republican Rep. Erin Grall of Vero Beach would require that a minor get written permission from a parent or a legal guardian to obtain an abortion. Florida now only requires that parents be notified.

The measure also provides that a minor could ask a circuit court judge to waive the parental consent provision under certain circumstances, such as when a girl is a child abuse or sexual abuse victim.

A previous such law was ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court.