Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Celebrates Successful Legislative Session
October 14, 2021
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
[email protected]
32 Priority Bills Signed into Law in California as Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Are Under Attack Across the Country
SACRAMENTO—With the California legislative session officially over, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is reflecting on a successful 2021 legislative session, with 32 bills that were either sponsored or supported by PPAC signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The signed legislation includes two sponsored bills PPAC worked with state legislators on: AB 1184 (Chiu) and AB 1356 (Bauer-Kahan). Both bills were signed into law by Governor Newsom during a virtual signing ceremony where he also announced his support for the Future of Abortion Council. Additional legislation supported by Planned Parenthood and signed into law by Governor Newsom includes SB 65, the California “Momnibus Act,” SB 306, related to STI testing and treatment, AB 118, the Community Response Initiative to Strengthen Emergency Systems (C.R.I.S.E.S.) Act, and AB 367, the Menstrual Equity Act.
“California must continue to build upon its status as a Reproductive Freedom state, and these bills and this past legislative session are a step in the right direction,” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “With attacks on people’s rights and restrictions on access to abortion reaching new heights, California’s leaders must continue to look to increase health equity. Our state must be there for all people, whether they call California home or are an out-of-state patient forced to seek care here due to their home state’s harmful and dangerous restrictions.”
“We look forward to working with Governor Newsom, legislative leaders, allies, organizations, and supporters across California in the upcoming 2022 legislative session to continue to push for increased access and affordability of sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.”
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND
Given that this is the first year of the two-year session, additional priority bills remain active and can be acted on again in January when the Legislature comes back from recess. That includes SB 245, co-sponsored legislation known as the Abortion Accessibility Act, and AB 32, co-sponsored legislation related to telehealth. Already, PPAC and legislative leaders’ efforts to expand telehealth due to the COVID-19 crisis allowed more than 250,000 telehealth appointments for critical health care services to be made in the previous fiscal year. PPAC will continue to work on legislation and policy related to expanding equitable access to abortion services and telehealth in 2022 as access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, comes under attack across the country like never before.
2021 has been the worst year for abortion restrictions since Roe became the law of the land in 1973. Since the beginning of the year, according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 600 restrictions have been introduced across the country. With bans like these, particularly the one allowed to remain in effect in Texas, California’s role as a Reproductive Freedom state becomes even more crucial to build upon in the upcoming legislative session.
Read more about the California Future of Abortion Council and what leaders across the state are saying about its importance at a time like this here and here.
Read more about Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California’s sponsored bills AB 1184 and AB 1356 here.
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Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) is the state public policy office representing California’s seven separately incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates. Through advocacy and electoral action, PPAC promotes sound public policy in areas of sexual and reproductive health care and sex education.