The package includes expanded medication-abortion access, changes for health-care providers and new maternal-health provisions.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed nine bills Sunday that change California policy on abortion access, maternal care, lactation services and the scope of practice for certain health professionals.
What the package changes
According to the governor’s office, the legislation expands access to medication abortion at community colleges, broadens the ability of certain licensed health professionals to perform abortions within their training and scope of practice, and adds reproductive-health provisions affecting veterans.
The package also includes changes involving lactation services, postpartum care and paid maternal leave for firefighters.
Abortion provisions remain politically contested
Supporters of the package describe the measures as protections for reproductive health and patient access. Opponents of expanded abortion access argue that state policy should place greater legal protection on unborn children and object to using public institutions to broaden access to abortion medication.
The nine bills include AB 1696, AB 1854, AB 1910, AB 1973, AB 2160, AB 2531, AB 2540, SB 526 and SB 1271.
Sources: Governor of California; Los Angeles Times.
