Recent Victories for California
Legislative Session Round-Up
How You Can Help

• AB 2010 (DeSaulnier) exempts affiliate clinics from the provisional licensure law which streamlines the process for Planned Parenthood affiliates to open new health centers.
• SB 1770 (Chapter 206) will extend the sunset date of the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act (RRLEA), a provision of the California FACE Act (SB 780 Ortiz) to January 1, 2014. As a result law enforcement agencies will have more time to conduct trainings related to the reporting and classification of anti-reproductive rights crimes, in an effort to ensure safe access to reproductive health centers.
• In 2008 PPGG participated in a coalition to pass the “ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES” ordinance which will protect patients from the harassment of anti-choice protestors when accessing reproductive health services within the city of Oakland.
• In 2007 passed SB 94 (Kuehl) which increased Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for family planning visits and increased access to time-sensitive, cost-effective family planning services statewide.
• In 2007 passed AB 629 (Brownley) that ensured that all state channeled funds allocated for sex education be used for comprehensive sex education programs thus outlawing state funding of ineffective, medically inaccurate, and biased abstinence-only programs.
• In November 2006, Prop 85, a second dangerous parental notification initiative was again defeated through a coalition effort by 54% to 46%.
• In November 2005, Prop 73, a dangerous parental notification initiative that endangered California’s teens and the right to chose was defeated through a coalition effort by 53% to 47%.
• In 2005, California passed a law guaranteeing that women’s birth control prescriptions must be filled by pharmacists.
• In 2003, SB 71 became law and mandated that if public schools in California offer sex education, that they have to provide comprehensive, unbiased, medically-accurate sex education.

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 The Good: Bills signed by the Governor

• SB 94 (Kuehl) will increase access to time-sensitive, cost-effective family planning services for low-income women statewide by increasing medi-cal reimbursement rates for family planning visits.
• AB 629 (Brownley) ensures that all state channeled funds allocated for sex education be used for comprehensive sex education programs thus outlawing state funding of ineffective, medically inaccurate, and biased abstinence-only programs.
• AB 1108 (Ma) makes California the first state in the country to ban phalates, a dangerous chemical, from being used in baby toys. Phthalates interfere with the hormone system and have been linked to reproductive defects, premature birth, and the early onset of puberty.
• AB 682 (Berg) streamlines and normalizes the HIV testing process by including HIV testing in regular blood work, unless the patient declines.

The Bad: Bills vetoed by the Governor

• AB 43 (Leno) would have guaranteed the California Constitution’s promise of religious freedom and extend the vital protections afforded by marriage to loving and committed same-sex couples.
• AB 1328 (Hayashi) would have eliminated an unconstitutional residency requirement for eligibility under the Access for Infants and Mothers Program (AIM) which disproportionately negatively impacts access to prenatal care for immigrant women, victims of intimate violence and victims of natural disasters.
• AB 1334 (Swanson) would have helped California reduce HIV infections among prison inmates -- and within the communities to which they return after incarceration -- by allowing public health agencies and non-profit organizations to provide condoms to inmates in California’s correctional facilities.
• AB 499 (Swanson) would have ensured that minors arrested for prostitution are not prosecuted, but rather treated as victims, and taken to a secure detention center or safe house and processed the same as a person who is a victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence.

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• Let your voice be heard! Take Action here.
• Find out other ways you can get involved here.
• Learn more about pro-choice, anti-choice, and related laws in California at www.prochoiceamerica.org.

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