SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — A bill that would allow Arizona doctors to perform abortions for their patients in California passed out of a state Assembly committee on Monday.
Senate Bill 233 — written by state Senator Nancy Skinner, a Berkeley Democrat — was hailed by members of the state’s Legislative Women’s Caucus late last month. It’s a response to an Arizona Supreme Court ruling upholding a near-complete ban on abortion passed in 1864. Someone convicted of performing or helping someone get an abortion could face two to five years in prison.
While the Arizona Legislature has since passed a bill repealing that ban, which Governor Katie Hobbs signed, the ban will remain in effect for another few months, said Assemblymember and Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, a Winters Democrat.
“Even with the repeal, this bill will be very vital,” she told the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Monday.
The committee, meeting for this bill only, passed the legislation to the Assembly floor.
According to Aguiar-Curry, Arizona bills signed into law become effective 90 days after that state’s legislative session ends. Skinner’s bill would remain effective until Nov. 30, giving Arizona doctors some months to perform abortions in California while their state’s ban still exists.
Arizona doctors would have to meet certain criteria, like having a medical license in good standing from their state. They also must have performed at least one abortion in Arizona within the past two years.
Additionally, Arizona doctors must provide their Arizona and temporary California addresses, as well as an affidavit stating they meet all requirements, to the Medical Board of California and Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
Giving false information in that affidavit could lead to a maximum $10,000 fine, a year in jail, or both.
Symphoni Barbee of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California said the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which granted a constitutional right to abortion, has caused waves of confusion. There are now 21 states with some kind of abortion ban.
“A near-total ban in our neighboring state only added to this confusion,” Barbee said, adding Senate Bill 233 reaffirms California’s commitment to reproductive health care.
Janice Rocco with the California Medical Association also spoke in favor of the bill during the committee hearing.
“We in California have to be constantly vigilant,” Rocco said.
Skinner’s legislation would ensure people could travel to California for the care they need. It also shows that the state is a leader in reproductive care.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Santa Cruz Democrat and committee member, said her daughter — now in her 20s — has fewer rights than Pellerin did at her age. She pointed to a Missouri law that prohibits women from divorcing their spouse when they’re pregnant.
“2024 of May and we are still fighting this stuff,” Pellerin said. “It is infuriating this is still happening.”
The legislative path Skinner’s bill has taken is different from others, as the Arizona high court didn’t issue its ruling on the Civil War-era abortion ban until after California’s deadline to file bills had passed.
That led Skinner to take her existing bill, which dealt with electric vehicle batteries, and insert the new language concerning Arizona doctors.
The bill, which already had passed the Senate last year and moved to the Assembly, sat inactive until Aguiar-Curry revived it in late April.
Its announcement was attended by several members of the women’s caucus, along with Governor Gavin Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
To become effective immediately after the governor signs it, the bill must pass both the Assembly and Senate with a two-thirds majority.
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