By SDCN Editor
Sacramento, CA–Just one month after announcing critical reproductive freedom legislation with the Legislative Women’s Caucus, Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday signed SB 233 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland) and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) to allow Arizona abortion providers to temporarily provide abortion care to patients from Arizona who travel to California for that care.
Last April, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to reimpose a regressive 1864 law imposing a near-total abortion ban and threatening to curtail access to abortion care in Arizona. The state’s leaders are working to repeal the ban and challenge its enforcement in court. Meanwhile, Newsom and the California Women’s Caucus acted swiftly to put in place a backstop for Arizonans by quickly passing urgent legislation through both houses and sending it to the governor’s desk.
The governor’s signature on SB 233 will immediately allow Arizona abortion care providers in good standing to register to provide abortion care temporarily in California to patients from Arizona. The signing builds on the governor’s historic efforts to defend and advance reproductive rights and women’s health care, even before the Supreme Court’s catastrophic decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“Arizona Republicans tried to turn back the clock to 1864 to impose a near-total abortion ban across their state. We refuse to stand by and acquiesce to their oppressive and dangerous attacks on women,” said Governor Newsom. “I’m grateful for the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and all our partners for moving quickly to provide this backstop. California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom.”
Arizona’s leaders have taken heroic steps to block the reimposition of the 1864 abortion ban. But given the uncertainty and confusion the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision has caused, California jumped in to assure Arizonans that they will continue to be able to access the reproductive health care they need and deserve if the 1864 ban goes into effect.
Newsom, in partnership with the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, has temporarily authorized licensed Arizona abortion care providers in good standing to provide care to Arizonans here in California — meaning they could cross the border and continue to provide care legally to their Arizona patients. While enforcement of the 1864 bill remains uncertain, SB 233 provides a critical stopgap for Arizona patients and providers.
Now through November 30, Arizona doctors will be able to provide abortions and abortion-related care for Arizona patients in California if the absolute ban takes effect – even temporarily – and to facilitate continued access to care when Arizona’s 15-week ban goes into effect. California shares a roughly 200-mile-long border with Arizona.
“Thanks to partners Essential Access and Red, Wine, and Blue, additional costs Arizona providers and patients would face would be offset through philanthropic funds,” the Governor’s Office stated in a news release.
“With Governor Newsom’s signature on SB 233, our Arizona sisters can come to California to get the health care they need from their own doctors, who they know and rely on. And their Arizona doctors can come to California without fear of spending 2 to 5 years in prison — the penalty under Arizona’s 1864 law,” said California Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Senator Skinner.
SB 233 will temporarily allow licensed Arizona doctors in good standing to provide abortion and abortion-related care to Arizona patients traveling to California through November 30, 2024. The Arizona doctors would be under the oversight of California’s Medical Board and Osteopathic Medical Board and would be required to first provide registration information to those boards before providing abortion care in California. The bill contains an urgency clause and takes effect immediately.
State officials say Arizona leaders identified a need to expedite the ability for Arizona abortion providers to continue to provide care to Arizonans as a way to support patients in their state seeking abortion care in California.
