March 30, 2004

«First_Name» «Last_Name»
«Local_Street_1»
«Local_City», FL  «Local_Zip»

RE:  Parents’ Right to Notice

Dear Senator «Last_Name»:

   We are unable to support SJR 2178 in its present form, though we are appreciative of the efforts of Senator Diaz de la Portilla and other Senators to bring the language more in conformity with the House version.  As we continue to work with the sponsor and others, we take this opportunity to share some of our concerns as indicated below:

1.      Parental notification does not prevent the minor from having an abortion.  It would require the physician to notify her parent or guardian of her intentions to have an abortion.  This amendment is not about consent, only notification.  Florida’s parents deserve at least this.  If they cannot be assured of a clear, clean amendment from the Legislature, they will be better off with none.

2.      We are opposed to adding unnecessary language more appropriate to the Statutes into the Florida Constitution.  If future court cases expand or restrict abortion, the legislature could not change the Constitution.

3.      We cannot support language that has uncertain meanings or interpretations.  Keeping the constitutional amendment concise, limiting it to notification while protecting privacy rights, is accomplished in HJR 1 and can be achieved in SJR 2178.

4.      Putting rape or incest in the Constitution is unwarranted. It is our belief that parents deserve to know if their children are the victims of the crime of rape or incest. If the father or guardian is guilty of incest, a mother deserves to know.  We do support properly drawn exceptions and judicial by-pass provisions in Statute.  Life of the mother and other emergency exceptions must be addressed in Statue.

5.      We must not abandon parents in Florida who deserve to have a clear and concise constitutional amendment providing that they may be notified in the case of their child’s abortion.

6.      The amendment should use the term “abortion” and not “termination of pregnancy”.  Termination of pregnancy occurs by live birth, miscarriage, or induced abortion.  This amendment seeks to address abortion only and not live birth or miscarriages.

   Please pass a clean constitutional amendment with a clear summary.

                                                                                          Sincerely yours,



                                                                                          Sheila S. Hopkins
                                                                                          Associate for Social Concerns

SSH:ds