Political Info and Laws in Brief
Executives
- Governor Jerry Brown (D) is pro-choice.
Legislature
- The California Assembly is pro-choice.
- The California Senate is pro-choice.
ANTI-CHOICE LAWSRefusal to Provide Medical ServicesCalifornia allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide women specific reproductive-health services, information, or referrals. Restrictions on Young Women's Access to AbortionCalifornia has an unconstitutional and unenforceable law that restricts young women's access to abortion services by mandating parental consent. Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP)California prohibits certain qualified health-care professionals from providing abortion care. |
PRO-CHOICE LAWSContraceptive EquityCalifornia law requires health-insurance plans that cover prescription medication to provide the same coverage for contraception. Emergency ContraceptionCalifornia law improves women's access to emergency contraception (EC). Freedom of Choice ActCalifornia has an affirmative right to choose in its state law. Guaranteed Access to PrescriptionsCalifornia guarantees that women's birth-control prescriptions will be filled. Low-Income Women's Access to AbortionCalifornia provides low-income women access to abortion.
Low-Income Women's Access to Family PlanningCalifornia provides certain low-income women increased coverage for Medicaid-funded family-planning services. Protection Against Clinic ViolenceCalifornia law protects women seeking reproductive-health care and medical personnel from blockades and violence. State Constitutional ProtectionCalifornia's constitution provides greater protection for a woman's right to choose than the U.S. Constitution. |
Ballot Measures
Do voters ever decide on issues related to a woman's right to choose? In many states, the answer is yes. Anti-choice groups put measures on the ballot to advance their agenda.
California
In California, anti-choice forces are collecting signatures for ballot measures that would impose a dangerous parental-involvement mandate and mandatory 48-hour delay on young women who seek abortion care. These measures jeopardize the health and safety of young women who, for fear of violence or in cases of incest, cannot turn to their parents. In addition, anti-choice advocates have proposed a "personhood" measure on the ballot, which would ban abortion.
