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TALLAHASSEE, FL. – Florida legislators are contemplating a new bill, HB 779, which might require feminine arrestees who usually are not launched on bond inside 72 hours to be administered a being pregnant take a look at upon request inside 24 hours. This bill, also called “Ava’s Law,” would require each municipal or county detention facility to inform feminine arrestees of their proper to request a being pregnant take a look at. The being pregnant take a look at might be performed by urine or blood checks, ultrasound scans, or different customary being pregnant testing protocols.
If a pregnant lady is convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to any size of incarceration, the sentencing choose should present her with the chance to defer her sentence till 12 weeks after supply. The pregnant lady could obtain essential healthcare for herself and the unborn little one throughout this deferral interval.
If the lady chooses to not defer her sentence, she have to be incarcerated as directed by the choose. The sentencing choose could order the pregnant lady to adjust to particular phrases and circumstances in the course of the deferral interval.
After the deferral interval ends, the lady have to be supplied and obtain specified providers inside 10 days of being incarcerated upon her request. Sanctions could also be imposed for any new legal convictions or violations of the phrases and circumstances ordered by the choose.
According to the bill, municipal and county detention services would accumulate and report particular information to the Department of Corrections. The division would accumulate information from its establishments and publish it on its public web site quarterly.
This information consists of the variety of pregnant women arrested, the variety of being pregnant checks requested and administered, and the variety of pregnant women who deferred their sentences.
The bill has sparked controversy amongst numerous teams, together with women’s rights and well being organizations. The bill’s supporters argue that it goals to offer pregnant women with essential healthcare and acceptable therapy throughout incarceration. Additionally, supporters consider it will stop pregnant women from being positioned in harmful conditions whereas in custody.
However, opponents of the bill argue that it’s an invasion of privateness and violates the rights of feminine arrestees. Some additionally argue that the bill may result in discrimination in opposition to pregnant women and discourage them from searching for medical care. Critics consider the bill may create pointless obstacles to healthcare for pregnant women in custody.
It is price noting that Florida isn’t the primary state to contemplate any such laws. Other states have handed comparable legal guidelines requiring being pregnant testing and deferring sentences for pregnant women. As of now, the bill remains to be into account in the Florida legislature, and it stays to be seen whether or not it should go and grow to be legislation.
