SACRAMENTO – The California state Senate today approved SB 233, urgency legislation that would allow Arizona reproductive care providers to immediately perform abortion services for Arizonans who travel to California. SB 233, which was approved by the state Assembly last week, is authored by Legislative Women’s Caucus (LWC) Chair Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Vice Chair Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and is sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Sen. Skinner and Asm. Aguiar-Curry introduced SB 233 last month after the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the state’s 160-year-old ban on abortion. In response to that ruling, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called on California and other states to allow Arizona abortion providers to continue to provide care to Arizonans who travel out of state for reproductive care.
“SB 233 is in response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s resurrection of a dead law criminalizing any and all abortions, a law passed in 1864 when women couldn’t vote and husbands could legally beat their wives. With SB 233 California offers a lifeline to Arizona doctors to provide the healthcare their patients need without fear of a prison sentence. Once again, California has made it loud and clear we will remain a safe haven for reproductive care.”
“For many years, but especially since the Dobbs decision, the California Legislative Women's Caucus has led on all of the legislative responses to the attacks on abortion and reproductive rights,” said Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. “We have passed legislation to expand, protect, and strengthen access to reproductive health care in our state, including access to safe abortions for all Californians, and refugees from other states seeking such care. Arizona’s courts, however, think Arizonans should live in 1864. So, to Arizona people of child-bearing age, and those who love and support them, we have your back, at least until you get the chance to reverse this attack on your rights on the Arizona ballot this November.”
Earlier this month, the Arizona Legislature voted to repeal its 1864 anti-abortion law, but the repeal will not take effect until late October or early November. SB 233 would provide an expedited licensing process to allow Arizona reproductive care providers to temporarily treat Arizona patients in California through Nov. 30, 2024.
Over the past year, a wave of new patients from other states have traveled to California for reproductive care, and California providers are expecting the surge to continue as more states abortion. More than 25 million women of child-bearing age live in states that have banned abortion.
SB 233 now goes to Gov. Newsom’s desk, and because it’s an urgency measure, it will take effect immediately when signed.
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 5-21-24 LWC PR SB 233 Abortion Arizona.pdf | 407.47 KB |