Newsom approves 9 abortion, reproductive health bills.
California Governor Signs Nine Bills to Expand Reproductive Health and Abortion Access
In a flurry of activity, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed nine pieces of legislation in September, with eight of them signed on September 27. These new laws aim to increase access to information and services related to reproductive health and abortions.
Recognizing the need for such laws in light of other states’ efforts to restrict abortions, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of protecting women’s healthcare rights. He stated, “Radical politicians continue their all-out assault on women’s health care with dangerous and deadly consequences. The right to an abortion is enshrined in California’s Constitution. We will continue to protect women and healthcare workers who are seeking and providing basic care.”
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Among the new laws, three specifically address allowing residents of states with restrictive guidelines to access education and medical services in California.
Senate Bill 345, authored by Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), strengthens protections for medical professionals disciplined in other states for providing abortions or other reproductive care services. However, critics raised concerns about the provision that repeals the existing law requiring parental consent for abortions performed on minors.
Another significant provision expands the definition of exemptions to murder to include a pregnant woman who causes the death of her fetus, whereas prior law only exempted those aiding or assisting.
Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner celebrated the signing of her bill and others, emphasizing the necessity of protecting the rights of patients and medical professionals. She stated, “As abortions, contraception, and other essential healthcare continue to be criminalized across the country, California is not backing down. These bills further strengthen and expand California’s legal protections for patients, doctors, nurses, and everyone involved in providing and dispensing reproductive and gender-affirming care.”
Other bills signed include Senate Bill 487 by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), which provides Medi-Cal access protections for providers disciplined in another state for providing reproductive health care services, and Assembly Bill 1707 by Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey), which prohibits the state board from denying applications from providers and facilities based on disciplinary actions related to abortion and ”gender-affirming care” services in other states.
Two Assembly bills focus on protecting reproductive health information, with one setting guidelines for web applications and the other strengthening medical record protections for individuals traveling to California for abortions or related services.
Insurers are now prohibited from denying malpractice coverage to providers based on services that are legal in California but illegal in other states, thanks to Assembly Bill 571 by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach).
Additionally, Assembly Bill 1720 by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) aims to protect patients by limiting ultrasound and imaging services to licensed facilities and healthcare providers.
Assemblywoman Stephanie Nguyen’s (D-Elk) Assembly Bill 1646 allows for more training opportunities for providers who were denied such opportunities in their home states, while Senate Bill 385 by Sen. Toni Atkins facilitates more abortion procedures in the state by allowing trained physician assistants to perform them.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of Governor Newsom, expressed her support for the bills, stating that they offer safeguards to patients and set a standard for national policy in expanding access to abortion. She said, “While California has institutionalized nation-leading protections for women, birthing people, and providers, we cannot become complacent in our work to combat extremists’ outright assaults on women and our reproductive agency. The policies affirmed today are emblematic of California’s ongoing commitment to serve as a safe haven for those seeking reproductive care.”
The California Future of Abortion Council, a group supporting these efforts, emphasized the relevance and necessity of these bills in light of the growing divide across the country regarding abortion policies. They stated, “As more states enact extreme and harmful abortion restrictions, California continues to lead the way in pioneering innovative policies to protect and expand access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive healthcare. The bills signed today not only strengthen legal protections for people seeking or providing abortion and gender-affirming care but include crucial reforms to improve accessibility and affordability of services for all who need them.”
Opponents of these regulations argue that they may violate constitutional law by interfering with other states’ legislative processes. The California Catholic Conference, a religious advocacy group based in Sacramento, wrote in the Senate analysis for SB 345, “The Legislature is overstepping and engaging in ideological colonization against states and citizens that do not want abortion. Denying the legitimate interest of other states to protect unborn children and public health is a dangerous precedent. By explicitly contravening the U.S. Constitution, this bill could prompt other states to selectively decide to ignore laws duly enacted by the California Legislature.”
What concerns have been raised by critics regarding the new laws, specifically regarding parental consent for abortions performed on minors?
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed nine bills in September with the aim of expanding reproductive health and abortion access in the state. Recognizing the need for such laws in light of other states’ efforts to restrict abortions, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of protecting women’s healthcare rights.
The new laws include Senate Bill 345, which strengthens protections for medical professionals disciplined in other states for providing abortions or other reproductive care services. However, critics raised concerns about the provision that repeals the existing law requiring parental consent for abortions performed on minors. Another significant provision expands the definition of exemptions to murder to include a pregnant woman who causes the death of her fetus.
Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner celebrated the signing of her bill and others, emphasizing the necessity of protecting the rights of patients and medical professionals. She stated, “As abortions, contraception, and other essential healthcare continue to be criminalized across the country, California is not backing down. These bills further strengthen and expand California’s legal protections for patients, doctors, nurses, and everyone involved in providing and dispensing reproductive and gender-affirming care.”
Other bills signed include Senate Bill 487 by Sen. Toni Atkins, which provides Medi-Cal access protections for providers disciplined in another state for providing reproductive health care services, and Assembly Bill 1707 by Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco, which prohibits the state board from denying applications from providers and facilities based on disciplinary actions related to abortion and “gender-affirming care” services in other states.
Two Assembly bills focus on protecting reproductive health information, with one setting guidelines for web applications and the other strengthening medical record protections for individuals traveling to California for abortions or related services.
Insurers are now prohibited from denying malpractice coverage to providers based on services that are legal in California but illegal in other states, thanks to Assembly Bill 571 by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 1720 by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan aims to protect patients by limiting ultrasound and imaging services to licensed facilities and healthcare providers.
Assemblywoman Stephanie Nguyen’s Assembly Bill 1646 allows for more training opportunities for providers who were denied such opportunities in their home states, while Senate Bill 385 by Sen. Toni Atkins facilitates more abortion procedures in the state by allowing
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