Associated Press
A Florida House panel has advanced a bill that puts state money into the operation of anti-abortion counseling services.
The House Health and Human Services Committee pushed the bill (HB 969) to the full floor on Thursday.
The bill is meant to structure a 12-year-old pregnancy services program offering women free counseling and prenatal services from a pro-life perspective. The pregnancy center would also provide services including physician referrals, flu and tetanus vaccines and medical screenings.
State Rep. Lori Berman said the move would put women’s lives in danger, and that state money should not go to religious purposes. While religious content is not allowed in these pregnancy centers, some of the service providers that have been contracted in the program are part of evangelical Christian networks, like Heartbeat International.
Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
