Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Applaud CA Assembly for Passing AB 2091
May 26, 2022
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
[email protected]
AB 2091 (Bonta) Would Enhance Privacy Protections for Medical Records Related to Abortion Care
SACRAMENTO—Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) released the following statement from Legislative Director Molly Robson regarding the California Assembly overwhelmingly passing AB 2091 (Bonta):
“AB 2091 will protect patient privacy to ensure that no one’s medical information is disclosed to a hostile anti-abortion state. As states across the country enact egregious abortion bans and further criminalize those who access this care, we are taking steps here in California to protect their access to abortion and their medical privacy. AB 2091 will ensure that there are guardrails to protect patient information, so that anyone who needs to seek care in California can do so without fear of their medical information being shared.”
AB 2091 (Bonta) would enhance privacy protections for medical records related to abortion care against disclosures to law enforcement and out-of-state third parties seeking to enforce hostile abortion bans in other states.
Earlier this month, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus added “urgency” to this bill, along with two others (AB 1666 & AB 2626, both of which passed the CA Assembly earlier this week), meaning they would go into effect immediately upon Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature – particularly important given the potential legal threat providers, patients, and people supporting access to abortion services will be under once the U.S. Supreme Court releases its decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case directly challenging Roe v Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.
AB 2091 builds on a recommendation put forth by the California Future of Abortion Council recommendations released in a December report, in which Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is a member of its “Steering Committee.”
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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.