West Orlando (Fla.) News
Florida Senator Sponsors Pregnant Students’ Rights, Interstate Abortion Notification
By Staff
Florida Senator Ashley Moody is supporting the right to life and sponsoring the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act and the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.
The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act requires universities to inform students who are pregnant of their rights and protections that would allow them to carry a pregnancy to term without abandoning their academic career, such as modified class schedules, excused absences, and resources. The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would make it a federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across state lines without complying with parental consent and notification laws.
“Navigating college can be challenging, and unfortunately women who become pregnant can feel pressure choosing between bringing life into this world or academic failure,” Republican Florida Senator Ashley Moody said. “No one should have to make this decision. My Pregnant Students’ Rights Act ensures students know what resources and support are available to them to stay in school, succeed, and care for their new baby.”
The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act amends the Higher Education Act to ensure all college students who are pregnant or may become pregnant know their rights and protections to carry a pregnancy to term, such as modified class schedules, excused absences, and more. The bill requires universities to inform students how to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education if there is a violation of Title IX protections for pregnant students. The measure also ensures universities disseminate information regarding the rights and protections for pregnant students to carry a pregnancy to term through emails, student handbooks, at orientation, on publicly available websites, and at student health or counseling centers. Information must include a list of campus resources to help pregnancy students and new mothers, accommodations provided by the school for pregnancy students and new mothers, and contact information for filing a discrimination complaint with ED or the school. These protections and options available to pregnant students include, and are not limited to, flexible class schedules, excused absences, and childcare assistance.
Majority Leader John Thune and Senators James Lankford, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Bill Cassidy, Jim Banks, Ted Budd, Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, Chuck Grassley, Steve Daines, and Roger Wicker have cosponsored the legislation. The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act is supported by Students for Life, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and March for Life Action.
The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would amend federal law to make it illegal to knowingly transport a minor across state lines with the specific intent that the minor obtain an abortion in order to evade a state’s parental consent and notification requirements, imposing fines and possible imprisonment for violators. The bill is designed to strengthen protections for parents and families by ensuring state parental notification or consent laws apply even when a minor is taken out of state seeking an abortion.
“As a mother, I cannot imagine my child being transported across state lines for a medical procedure without my knowledge,” Senator Ashley Moody said. “Parents should never be kept out of the loop when it comes to major, life-altering decisions affecting their children. I’m introducing the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act to strengthen protections for parents and families by ensuring compliance with state parental notification and consent laws.”
Joining Senator Moody as cosponsors are Senators Bill Cassidy, Kevin Cramer, Jim Risch, Steve Daines, John Kennedy, Deb Fischer, James Lankford, and Pete Ricketts. National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Students for Life Action, National Right to Life, Priests for Life, Americans United for Life, and March for Life Action also support the measure.