BLUE ALERT: Oppose The Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child

|Published on: Feb 25, 2024||

Send an email BEFORE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26 at 2PM

WE OPPOSE THIS BILL – CS/SB 476

The Florida Senate Rules Committee will meet on

Monday, February 26, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST

OPPOSE: The Senate Rules Committee will be taking up Senate Bill 476 (a.k.a. HB 651) – Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child – which will target abortion providers, abortion-seeking patients, and people who help them by allowing lawsuits for “wrongful death” of an “unborn child.” This is the final committee stop in the Florida House. It seeks to establish fetal personhood and empower abusers!

The authors of the bill, Senator Erin Grall and Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, have copied this proposed new law from laws passed in states hostile to abortion. Senator Grall and Rep. Persons-Mulicka were the authors of last year’s six-week abortion ban, and it’s clear SB 476 (and HB 651) is another example of political interference where it doesn’t belong.

Disturbingly, SB 476 is identical to HB 651 that opens the door for those seeking abortion care to harassment from their partners or ex-partners via lawsuits seeking damages – a particularly damaging prospect for survivors of domestic violence. That’s why the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom coalition has dubbed this bill the “Abuser Empowerment Act.”

In addition, the language in this bill has been used in other states to harass abortion providers by allowing individuals (like an ex-boyfriend of a patient who received abortion care) to sue abortion providers in civil court for wrongful death. This bill would leave survivors of domestic abuse in particularly vulnerable situations. Similar provisions have been used by abusers to maintain control over their victims and to harass health care providers who offer care to survivors of abuse.

CALL or EMAIL the Florida Senate Rules Committee Members to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 476!

Names and Contact Information

  1. Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R) – Chair – Mayfield.Debbie.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5019
  2. Sen. Keith Perry (R) – Vice-Chair – Perry.Keith.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5009
  3. Sen. Dennis Baxley (R) – Baxley.Dennis.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5013
  4. Sen. Lauren Book (D) – Book.Lauren.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5035
  5. Sen. Boyd (R) – Boyd.Jim.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5020
  6. Sen. Brodeur (R) – Brodeur.Jason.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5010
  7. Sen. Burgess (R) – Burgess.Danny.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5023
  8. Sen. Burton (R) – Burton.Colleen.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5012
  9. Sen. DiCeglie (R) – DiCeglie.Nick.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5018
  10. Sen. Garcia (R) – Garcia.Ileana.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5036
  11. Sen. Hooper (R) – Hooper.Ed.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5021
  12. Sen. Hutson (R) – Hutson.Travis.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5007
  13. Sen. S. Jones (D) – Jones.Shevrin.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5034
  14. Sen. Osgood (D) – Osgood.Rosalind.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5032
  15. Sen. Rodriguez (R) – Rodriguez.AnaMaria.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5040
  16. Sen. Rouson (D) – Rouson.Darryl.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5016
  17. Sen. Corey Simon (R) – Simon.Corey.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5003
  18. Sen. Torres, Jr. (D) – Torres.Victor.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5025
  19. Sen. Yarborough (R) – Yarborough.Clay.web@flsenate.gov; (850) 487-5004

Bulk emails addresses separated with commas:

[Copy and Paste into To: Line]

Mayfield.Debbie.web@flsenate.gov, Perry.Keith.web@flsenate.gov, Baxley.Dennis.web@flsenate.gov, Book.Lauren.web@flsenate.gov, Boyd.Jim.web@flsenate.gov, Brodeur.Jason.web@flsenate.gov, Burgess.Danny.web@flsenate.gov, Burton.Colleen.web@flsenate.gov, DiCeglie.Nick.web@flsenate.gov, Garcia.Ileana.web@flsenate.gov, Hooper.Ed.web@flsenate.gov, Hutson.Travis.web@flsenate.gov, Jones.Shevrin.web@flsenate.gov, Osgood.Rosalind.web@flsenate.gov, Rodriguez.AnaMaria.web@flsenate.gov, Rouson.Darryl.web@flsenate.gov, Simon.Corey.web@flsenate.gov, Torres.Victor.web@flsenate.gov, Yarborough.Clay.web@flsenate.gov

Script/Email Message

Dear Senators Mayfield, perry, Baxley, Book, Boyd, Brodeur, Burgess, Burton, DiCeglie, Garcia, Hooper, Hutson, Jones, Osgood, Rodriguez, Rouson, Simon, Torres, Yarborough:

Please oppose SB 476 when it is considered by the Senate Rules Committee on February 26, 2024. The vague language of this bill will lead to extreme government overreach and political interference where it doesn’t belong, in the private health care decisions of Floridians.

In other states, similar legislation has been used to target abortion providers or to penalize those who help others access reproductive care. These decisions are personal, and this bill could be weaponized against patients and survivors of domestic abuse.

Again, please vote NO on SB 476 to ensure experiences around pregnancy, abortion, and miscarriage stay between a pregnant person and who they choose to involve.

I also urge you to strongly oppose the last-minute amendment from Senator Grall. If her amendment becomes law, it could dissuade pregnant Floridians from getting needed help — whether for an abortion or even help with a miscarriage — for fear their health care provider or friend will face frivolous lawsuits.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]