Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Release 2021 Legislative Scorecard
November 22, 2021
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
[email protected]
SACRAMENTO—Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) released its annual Legislative Scorecard for the 2021 Legislative Session, with 86 members, all Democrats, receiving a 100% score.*
At the start of the 2021 Legislative Session, PPAC announced its top legislative and budget priorities, including four sponsored bills – AB 1184, AB 1356, AB 32, SB 245, which would be included on the scorecard. The scores represent California legislators votes on at least one floor vote and in the relevant committees for the PPAC sponsored legislation and top budget priority (AB 133). This year’s legislative scorecard considers a member’s vote or action during a critical opportunity to vote or their role in procedurally holding or delaying a priority bill.
2021 Planned Parenthood Legislative Scorecard
“As access to abortion continues to come under attack like never before, including multiple cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, we applaud the 86 legislative champions who took repeated actions this year to increase access and affordability for sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, across California. We are especially thankful for the legislative champions who authored our sponsored legislation this year, Assemblymembers David Chiu, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Senator Gonzalez,” said Jodi Hicks, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “As we continue to work towards increased access and health equity, Californians expect policymakers to stand up, speak out, and take definitive action on Planned Parenthood’s priority issues, including additional investments and updated or expanded policies. We look forward to continuing to work with our legislative champions in the coming legislative session.”
In addition to the bills scored, PPAC supported more than 50 bills and budget items that impact Planned Parenthood patients, health centers, and our mission during the 2021 Legislative Session. This included bills related to maternal health, racism as a public health crisis, police accountability, access to menstrual products, health care coverage and payments, infrastructure to support telehealth, foster youth wellbeing, LGBTQ+ rights, behavioral health, intimate partner violence, and health equity.
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. In fact, more than 106 abortion restrictions have been enacted in 19 states, including 12 abortion bans. Read more about the historic attacks on abortion access here.
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. That is why, Planned Parenthood, along with 30 other organizations and individuals, through the California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council), is researching and drafting policy recommendations that aim to build on California’s status as a Reproductive Freedom state and how to best prepare California -- and health centers across the state -- for a potential increase in patients seeking abortion or other sexual and reproductive health care within California. 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.
“It is essential policymakers build upon California’s Reproductive Freedom status and take swift action in preparation for more people seeking sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, here in California,” Hicks concluded. “We will continue to fight for health equity across the state, and that must include access to abortion.”
As people’s constitutional right to abortion continues to come under attack like never before, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is reviewing its scorecard methodology – looking for ways to better highlight lawmakers who are taking proactive action to make progress on sexual and reproductive rights, health, and justice – and will be introducing a new scorecard process in the next legislative session.
Read more about Planned Parenthood’s sponsored legislation signed into law this year here.
*A 100% score does not mean a legislator has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
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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.