Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Statement on Historic Abortion Protection and Expansion Bill Package Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

September 27^th, 2022
Brandon Richards, Director of Communications
[email protected]

12 Bills Provide Patient and Provider Reassurance, Shore Up California Abortion Services

 

SACRAMENTO—Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) released the following statement from President and CEO Jodi Hicks regarding California Governor Gavin Newsom signing 12 bills supported by the California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council). PPAC is a member of CA FAB Council steering committee. PPAC is proud to have been a part of this year-long collaborative effort with reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations and policymakers from across California, and we thank Governor Gavin Newsom for being a champion and = taking action around abortion rights.

“As extreme politicians across the country pursue personal political agendas seeking to restrict and criminalize people seeking and providing abortion services – essential health care that should be available to people where they live and when they want or need it – California is showing what is possible when leaders listen to experts, facts, science, and from the people who are directly impacted” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

“Patients and providers across California and the country are living in a state of fear and confusion as we collectively try to navigate this new post-Roe reality. Today’s bold and comprehensive actions provide reassurance to all that California is a Reproductive Freedom state and all are welcome to seek the care they want or need here in California.

In addition to the PPAC and CA FAB Council supported bill package to protect and expand abortion access, Governor Gavin Newsom also signed AB 523 (Leyva) which relates to contraception and PPAC supported.

“California continues to take comprehensive and creative steps to address a national crisis created by a handful of extreme conservative justices on the Supreme Court,” Hicks continued. “Advocates and activists on the ground will continue to do everything possible to ensure people can get the abortion care they need until that care is legally available in their home state.”

“As we know and have seen, a right is not enough. People need safe and equitable access to that right and that is what we are fighting for each and every day – whether they live in California or are forced to seek care here due to hostile laws in their own state,” Hicks concluded.

This latest effort is in addition to Governor Gavin Newsom signing AB 1666 (Bauer-Kahan) and SB 245 (Gonzalez) earlier this year, both pieces of legislation were endorsed by PPAC.

PPAC SPONSORED LEGISLATION SIGNED BY GOVERNOR NEWSOM (to date):

• SCA 10 (Atkins & Rendon): Amends the state constitution to explicitly protect access to abortion and contraception.
  • Successfully passed the CA Assembly and CA Senate in June and will be on the ballot this November as Proposition 1
• SB 245 (Gonzalez): Remove cost-sharing for abortion services, eliminating co-pays and co-insurance in commercial insurance for abortion.
  • Signed into law by Governor Newsom in May of 2022 and goes into effect January 1, 2023.
• SB 1142 (Skinner & Caballero): Creates an “Abortion Information Webpage” with comprehensive information regarding accessing abortion services in California, to provide patients one point of entry to connect with the nearest and most accessible abortion provider, obtain information about coverage or financial support for care, and logistical assistance and resources for travel, lodging, or other needs.
  • Funding included in the budget signed in June by Governor Newsom and revised in Senate Bill 121 & Assembly Bill 204 to create the “Abortion Support Fund” to provide grants to California organizations that assist patients in overcoming barriers to abortion through direct practical and logistical support.
• SB 1245 (Kamlager): Establishes the Los Angeles County Reproductive Safe Haven Pilot Project to support innovative approaches and patient-centered collaborations to safeguard patient access to abortions, regardless of residency.
  • Funding included in the budget signed in June by Governor Newsom and revised in Senate Bill 179 & Assembly Bill 179.
• AB 32 (Aguiar-Curry): Improves patient access to health care by establishing telehealth flexibilities, including allowing some new patients to be established via synchronous telehealth modalities, improving patient access to care, and making telehealth flexibilities from the public health emergency permanent.
  • Included in the budget was DHCS’ policy for telehealth beyond the Public Health emergency with respect to Medi-Cal.
• AB 1666 (Bauer-Kahan): Protects patients and providers in California from civil liability judgments for providing reproductive health care to patients when the claims are based on laws in other states that are hostile to abortion rights and are contrary to the public policy of California.
  • Signed into law by Governor Newsom on June 24, 2022, and went into effect immediately due to the urgency clause it contained
• AB 2091 (Bonta): Enhances 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.
  • Has an urgency clause and would go into effect immediately upon signature by Governor Gavin Newsom
• AB 2134 (Weber): Establishes the “California Reproductive Health Equity Program” which will provide grants to providers who provide uncompensated care to patients with low-incomes and those who face other financial barriers to accessing abortion and contraception.
  • Funding included in the budget signed in June by Governor Newsom.
• AB 2205 (Carrillo): Requires the qualified health plans under Covered California to report annually to the Department of Insurance and Department of Managed Health Care the total amounts of funds collected in the segregated accounts (established under the ACA to hold premium payment of $1 per member per month and from which claims for abortions must be paid) to determine the funds currently in those accounts and how much is being used each year to pay claims.
• AB 2223 (Wicks): Ensures that no one in California will be investigated, prosecuted, or incarcerated for ending a pregnancy or experiencing pregnancy loss.

 

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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.