Reproductive Justice

AB 2348 Would Increase Access To Birth Control for Thousands of Women in California by Allowing Registered Nurses to Dispense Self-Administered Hormonal Contraceptives

This year, Planned Parenthood and California Family Health Council are sponsoring Assembly Bill 2348, introduced by Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell, which would increase access to birth control for thousands of women in California. Current law allows registered nurses (RNs) working in primary care clinics to dispense drugs or other devices only upon an order by a physician or a surgeon. This bill would expand the number... [Read More]

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Would Provide Pregnant Workers With Reasonable Accommodations For Limitations Caused by Pregnancy

California requires employers to provide pregnant workers with reasonable accommodation for limitations caused by pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. Unfortunately, Federal law does not require the reasonable accommodation of pregnant workers in all circumstances, and most states do not have pregnancy accommodation requirements. As a result, many pregnant employees are not legally entitled to the workplace... [Read More]

SB 1338, Which Would Have Allowed Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives and Physician Assistants to Obtain Training and to Provide Early Safe Abortions Under the Terms of Their Licenses, is Shelved

After failing to secure a tie-breaking vote in the Senate Business Professional and Economic Development Committee, Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) shelved legislation (SB 1338) last month that would have allowed a limited number of non-physicians to perform an early-term abortion procedure. Although her legislation appears finished for the year, Kehoe signaled that she may pursue other avenues. Senator Kehoe’s... [Read More]

California’s Budget Crisis Harms Pregnant and Parenting Teens

California’s budget crisis has resulted in reduced services available from the two major programs designed to help pregnant and parenting teens graduate from high school — Cal-SAFE and Cal-LEARN. Cal-SAFE is a voluntary program that provides school and community-based services for pregnant and parenting teens and child care and development services for their children. Cal-SAFE funds have dwindled since 2009... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: Budget Cuts to California’s Health and Social Services Programs Have a Disproportionate Impact on Women

Recent budget cuts to state health and human services programs such as Medi-Cal and CalWORKS will disproportionately affect women. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program and CalWORKs is the state’s welfare-to-work program. About two-thirds of adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries are women and about 78% of adult CalWORKs beneficiaries are women. In 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the state’s... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: Parental Notification Initiatives for California Ballot Enter Circulation Again

California voters may face another measure on the ballot concerning parental notification for minors seeking abortions. Two initiatives have been certified to circulate for signatures. To qualify for the ballot, the proponent must collect 807,615 signatures of registered voters by June 11, 2012. One measure proposes to amend the California Constitution to prohibit abortion for an unemancipated minor until a physician... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: SB 1338 Allows Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives and Physician Assistants to Obtain Training and to Provide Early Safe Abortions Under the Terms of their Licenses

Senator Christine Kehoe, (D-San Diego) introduced legislation to ensure women have safe and early access to comprehensive reproductive health care from trained local providers. Introduced February 24, 2012, SB 1338 (formerly S.B. 1501) would allow nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants to obtain training and then to provide early safe abortion under the terms of their licenses. The procedure,... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: Northern California District Court Will Determine Whether San Francisco “Pregnancy Crisis Centers” Have Engaged in False Advertising

In October 2011, San Francisco passed an ordinance prohibiting “pregnancy crisis centers” from engaging in misleading advertising. The ordinance allows courts to fine these centers, which counsel pregnant women against abortions, up to $500 every time they falsely advertise or imply that they offer abortion services. First Resort, Inc., one of the centers targeted by the ordinance, filed suit in the United States... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: The Ninth Circuit Determined that Oakland, California’s “Bubble Ordinance,” Creating a Protective Zone Around Entrances to Reproductive Health Clinics, is Constitutional, if Evenly Enforced

In July 2011, the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion in Hoye, II v. City of Oakland, in which the California Women’s Law Center filed an amicus brief in support of the city. The case involved a challenge to Oakland’s “bubble” ordinance, which creates a 100-foot zone around entrances to reproductive health clinics. The ordinance makes it unlawful to “willfully and knowingly approach within eight feet of any... [Read More]

Reproductive Justice Update: California’s Expanded Pregnancy Leave Protections Effective January 1, 2012

California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation intended to afford pregnant women more employment and insurance protection. Effective January 1, 2012, two sets of legislation, SB 299 and AB 592, along with SB 222 and AB 210, attempt to ensure that pregnant women in California are able to maintain health insurance benefits while on a pregnancy-related leave. Previously, California’s Pregnancy Disability... [Read More]