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Associated PressSolve the medical malpractice issue this year, put parental notice in the Constitution next year, the governor suggests.
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush says lawmakers should put a constitutional amendment on the 2004 ballot that would require pregnant minors to tell their parents before getting an abortion, but thinks a decision can wait until next year.
"My guess is, next session will be fine," the governor said during a Tuesday stop in Tampa for a literary conference. "It can wait."
The Florida Supreme Court last week reversed a lower court decision and ruled that the parental notice law violated privacy rights guaranteed by the state Constitution.
Bush, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and Senate President Jim King all disagree with the decision, and Byrd sought to persuade the governor to include the issue in the current special session on medical malpractice insurance rates.
Bush indicated Tuesday he agreed with King that the issue might be too difficult for lawmakers to deal with while also dealing with the malpractice issue, which has insurance companies and lawyers unhappy and doctors threatening to take their practices to other states.
"Right now my focus is on medical malpractice and getting that done," Bush said later at an Orlando stop.
However, when questioned, Bush said he'd be willing to leave the door open for lawmakers to deal with the sticky parental notification issue earlier than next year.
"We may be able to do it," he said. "On the other hand ... we have ample time."
The court ruled the parental notice law violated privacy rights guaranteed by the state Constitution, reversing a decision of the 1st District Court of Appeal.
The law, which covered pregnant girls 17 and younger, passed in 1999 and was never enforced pending the constitutional challenge.
A measure to insulate such legislation from the court could not go on the ballot before November 2004.