HB1221- Fetal Diagnosis Abortion Ban
Presented to the Hon. Sen. Burton
Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee
April 5, 2021
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POSITION: OPPOSE
The Tampa Bay Access Force and Partners Oppose Restrictions on the Right to an Abortion in Florida. We urge the members of the Health and Human Services Committee to vote no on HB1221. This bill is an attack on the state’s constitutional right to privacy and a pregnant person’s right to determine their own medical interests with their doctor.
The looming threat of this bill has led the Tampa Bay Access Force to draw together a coalition of local and regional organizations aligned with abortion rights and access to oppose its passage.
Our coalition opposes any attempts to limit the ability for Floridians to access an abortion and especially for our legislative resources to be diverted from far more pressing healthcare and economic issues like COVID relief.
We take issue with HB1221’s premise to limit abortion based on the results of prenatal genetic testing. HB1221 seeks to ban abortion of results of prenatal genetic testing, which grossly impedes the constitutional right to privacy between a person and their doctor. Abortion is a personal and complex decision that must be left up to a pregnancy person in consultation with their family, faith, and healthcare provider.
While limiting abortion access by a month or more is problematic on its own, even more alarming is the potential that this bill has to limit abortion even more in the future. This bill does not address the serious underlying concerns that lead to discrimination of those with disabilities in the community.
Please find below the list of individuals and organizations who have signed on to this opposition as of April 5, 2021 below.
Organization
Zip Code
| Tampa Bay Access Force — SPONSOR | 34695 |
| A Woman’s Choice of Jacksonville | 32216 |
| Access Reproductive Care-Southeast | 30357 |
| American Atheists | 32309 |
| Carolina Abortion Fund | 27701 |
| Charlotte Uprising | 28269 |
| Direct Action Everywhere Pinellas | 33701 |
| Emergency Medical Assistance | 33486 |
| Equality Florida | 33733 |
| Florida National Organization for Women | 32835 |
| Florida Health Justice Project | 33156 |
| Florida National Organization for Women Education Fund | 32903 |
| Florida Policy Action Network | 32301 |
| Greater Orlando National Organization for Women | 32835 |
| Holler Health Justice | 25339 |
| Indigenous Women Rising | 87194 |
| Interfaith Students for Reproductive Health & Justice USF Tampa | 33620 |
| Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Florida | 33137 |
| League of Women Voters Broward | 33021 |
| League of Women Voters of the Space Coast | 32926 |
| Lilith Fund | 78768 |
| Jane’s Due Process | 78768 |
| Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund | 39204 |
| National Organization for Women Jacksonville Chapter | 32201 |
| National Organization for Women Pasco Chapter | 34656 |
| National Organization for Women Pinellas Chapter | 33706 |
| New Orleans Abortion Fund | 70119 |
| New River Abortion Access Fund | 24060 |
| Planned Parenthood Generation Action USF Tampa | 33620 |
| Presidential Women’s Center | 33407 |
| Pro-Choice Advocacy League | 33868 |
| Reproductive Health Access Project, Florida Chapter | 10025 |
| Sex Worker Solidarity Network | 33609 |
| Tampa Bay Abortion Fund | 34695 |
| Tampa Bay Area Harm Reduction | 33609 |
| Tampa Bay Housing Justice Committee Working Group | 33609 |
| Tampa Woman’s Health Center | 33612 |
| Texas Equal Access Fund | 75222 |
| Women’s Emergency Network | 33256 |
| Women’s March Central Gulf Coast | 34609 |
| Women’s Voices Media 33776 Yellowhammer Fund | 35401 |
Tampa Bay Abortion Fund 