California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a new bill on Wednesday that aims to enhance abortion access for residents of Arizona. This initiative comes in response to the recent decision by Arizona’s Supreme Court to uphold a nearly complete ban on abortion.
Arizona doctors would have the opportunity to provide abortion services to Arizona residents in California until the end of the year, according to the proposed bill.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Governor Newsom expressed his concerns about the impact of Arizona’s law on California, stating that it is the first border state law that will directly affect his state. Instead of simply accepting this fate, Newsom emphasized the need to proactively address the implications of the law.
According to Newsom, the bill aims to enable reputable healthcare providers in Arizona to offer essential care to patients who are relocating from Arizona to California.
The proposed legislation aims to provide protection for doctors from Arizona who travel to California to perform abortion services, ensuring that they are not subject to enforcement actions in other states. According to state Sen. Nancy Skinner, who wrote the bill, if enacted, California law enforcement would be prohibited from collaborating with law enforcement agencies from other states that attempt to prosecute individuals under abortion bans.
According to Skinner, Arizona women can now access the healthcare they require from their trusted doctors in California, without any fear of facing imprisonment for a period of two to five years.
Dr. Tanya W. Spirtos, president of the California Medical Association, joined Newsom and the California Legislative Women’s Caucus on Wednesday to express her support for the proposed legislation.
According to Spirtos, the ruling in Arizona will endanger physicians who are simply providing essential medical care to their patients.
“It is regrettable that women in Arizona will be compelled to travel far distances outside of their own state, away from their support system, in order to access healthcare. Nonetheless, I take pride in the fact that California is taking the initiative to provide assistance,” she expressed.
In a recent statement, Newsom addressed the impending repeal of a long-standing law in Arizona. The law, enacted in 1864, imposes severe penalties, including imprisonment for two to five years, on individuals involved in performing or facilitating abortions. Newsom’s remarks came just hours before the Arizona state House voted on the repeal bill, which will now move on to the state Senate for further deliberation.
Kyla Guilfoil is currently interning for NBC News Digital Politics.
Liz Kreutz made a valuable contribution.