Tallahassee, Florida — A Senate committee in Florida has voted unanimously to approve a bill that requires abortionists to provide medical care to babies that are born alive after abortion attempts.

The House version of the bill had been strongly opposed by Planned Parenthood, and as previously reported, representative Alisa LaPolt Snow attended a recent legislative hearing to express opposition.

“We do not believe that legislation should be created with the intent of coercing, shaming or judging a woman or her physician,” she told the House panel. “As this legislation is currently written, we believe that it attempts to interfere with a woman’s ability to make her own personal medical decisions with her physician, her family and her faith.”

Legislators appeared dismayed by her opposition to a bill that seeks to save the lives of those who are born alive.

“[I]t is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief,” Chairman Jim Boyd remarked to Snow. “If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

“Um, well, we believe that any decision that’s made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,” Snow replied.

“Can you tell me what [currently] happens when a baby is alive on the table?” asked Representative Daniel Davis. “At that point, what do they do with a baby that is struggling to live?”

“I don’t know,” Snow answered. “And as it’s been referenced earlier, we don’t know how prevalent this situation is.”

“[Y]ou stated that a baby born alive on a table as a result of a botched abortion that that decision should be left to the doctor and the family,” Representative Jose Oliva chimed in minutes later. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“That decision should be between the patient and the health care provider,” Snow repeated.

“I think that at that point the patient would be the child struggling on the table, wouldn’t you agree?” Oliva contended.

“Uh, that’s a very good question. I really don’t know how to answer that,” Snow answered. “I would be glad to have some more conversations with you about this.”

Last week, a Florida House committee voted to approve the legislation despite the pleas of Snow and others, and on Tuesday, the Senate Health Policy Committee unanimously agreed to send the bill to the Senate for a full vote.

Following its approval, Governor Rick Scott released a statement praising state legislators for standing up for life.

“The Infants Born Alive bill, SB 1636 – and its House companion, HB 1129 – ensure common sense measures to help care for the babies who survive abortion procedures,” he wrote. “It is essential that we protect the weakest among us, and I am grateful for the Senators and Representatives in both parties who are supporting care for these babies.”

The bill will now move on to both houses of legislature for consideration.

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