The Public Affairs team mobilized nearly 300 Central Valley residents -- including patients, health care professionals, non-profit leaders, students, and faith leaders --to oppose an eleventh-hour objection to granting a permit for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte’s new, larger health center in Visalia.
This diverse coalition mobilized support letters, petitions, and op-eds, fighting for the PPMM health center and health care-access that is so urgently needed in Tulare County. Their message was loud and clear: “Don’t take away our care!”
At Visalia City Council meetings in February and March, the PPAMM team also organized dozens of supporters to provide public comment as well as hosting candlelight prayer vigils and marching with passionate members of the community, including legendary Central Valley labor leader, Dolores Huerta.
While the proposed site permit ultimately did not go through, PPAMM succeeded in building a powerful movement that not only illustrated the community’s strong support for sexual and reproductive health care in the Central Valley, but will hold the local City Council accountable until a new PPMM health center site is secured in Visalia.
PPAMM is proud of our enduring commitment to the Central Valley, educating and mobilizing supporters around these critical issues.
In February, the PPAMM Board of Directors and staff conducted 18 candidate interviews in 10 California Assembly and Senate races, and countless more for candidates who are running for local office in both California and Nevada. Every person deserves the ability to make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, and these are the candidates who will fight to make this a reality. See our full list of 100% and endorsed candidates here.
Though the Nevada legislature meets every other year and is out of session in 2022, the California legislature is in full swing right now. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is sponsoring eight groundbreaking bills (see below), following recent recommendations made by the California Future of Abortion Council. The council is a coalition of reproductive health care allies -- including PPMM’s VP of Public Affairs Lauren Babb -- partners, and leaders working in collaboration with policy makers, providers, patients, and other key constituents to assess challenges and recommend solutions that will continue to provide abortion-access for Californians and those in other states who may seek services here.
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is also making state budget requests to fund abortion-access for all Californians while also expanding an infrastructure of support for patients coming from out of state.
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Sponsor Legislation
- AB 2134 -The California Abortion and Reproductive Equity (CARE) Act (Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber) This bill will establish the California Reproductive Health Equity Program to support California providers who offer uncompensated reproductive health care to patients in the state.
- AB 2091- Protecting Patient Confidentiality (Assemblymember Mia Bonta) This bill will protect patient medical records related to abortion care, under California's Reproductive Privacy Act.
- SB 1142 -Support for Practical Assistance Organizations and Infrastructure (Senators Nancy Skinner and Ana Caballero) This bill will require creation of a website for comprehensive information about accessing abortion in California and will create a mechanism for practical support organizations and abortion-access funds to receive financial reimbursement for logistical services provided.
- AB 1666 – Protection from Civil Liability for Abortion Providers (Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan) This bill will protect anyone who is sued for providing, receiving, or helping someone get abortion care, from civil liability. The bill is a response to anti-abortion laws in states across the country that have encouraged these lawsuits, and it will block other states from interfering with rights protected under the California Reproductive Privacy Act.
- AB 2205 -Abortion Segregation Funds (Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo) This bill will require transparency from health insurance plans that collect separate premiums for abortion related coverage mandated by the Affordable Care Act.
- AB 2223 -Decriminalization of Abortion and Pregnancy loss (Assemblymember Buffy Wicks) This bill will create clear and consistent guidance regarding existing protections under the Reproductive Privacy Act to protect people from prosecutions and criminalization of abortion or pregnancy-loss.
- SB 107 -Refuge for Trans Youth and Parents (Senator Scott Wiener) This bill will protect transgender people and their families from hostile out of state laws.
California Budget Request
- Fully fund abortion services in Medi-Cal
- Ask: Support $15 million in ongoing funding for an Equity and Infrastructure Payment to be added in Medi-Cal reimbursements
- California Reproductive Health Equity Program
- Ask: Support the creation of the California Reproductive Health Equity Program, a grant program to reimburse California health care providers who provide uncompensated reproductive health care services to patients in California, a $20-million ask over three years and the accompanying bill AB 2134 (Weber).
- Support Patient Access to Abortion
- Ask: Support a $20-million request to create of the Abortion Support Fund and the creation of an Abortion Access webpage with comprehensive information about accessing abortion in California. And support the accompanying bill proposal SB 1142 (Caballero/ Skinner).
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