Update 5/24/2024: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 233 into law on Thursday, allowing abortionists from Arizona to travel to California, evading Arizona’s pro-life laws to commit abortions on women from Arizona.
“Arizona Republicans tried to turn back the clock to 1864 to impose a near-total abortion ban across their state,” Newsom said in a statement. “We refuse to stand by and acquiesce to their oppressive and dangerous attacks on women.”
He added, “California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom.”
Currently, Arizona protects the majority of preborn children from abortion with an exception for the life of the mother (though induced abortion — the direct and intentional killing of preborn children — is never medically necessary). SB 233 will protect Arizona abortionists, allowing them to commit abortions on their patients from Arizona after traveling to California to commit the act. The bill is temporary and will expire in November. Pro-abortion advocates in Arizona are attempting to get a proposed pro-abortion constitutional amendment on the ballot in November. If it passes, it would create a fundamental right to abortion in Arizona and negate SB 233.
5/21/2024: The California Senate passed SB233 on Tuesday, a bill that would allow Arizona abortionists to temporarily commit abortions on Arizona residents in California.
The move comes after the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a law protecting most preborn children from abortion in April. Despite the court’s decision, Attorney General Kris Mayes said that she will not enforce the law. In addition, pro-abortion advocates in Arizona are working to get a proposed pro-abortion constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would create a “fundamental right” to kill preborn babies in the state constitution.
California legislators appear confident that Arizona’s pro-abortion amendment will be approved by voters in November. It has made the law temporary. The CA Family Council wrote on X, “#SB233just passed the Senate Floor. This would allow Arizona doctors to perform abortions in California through November 30, 2024. Every Republican Senator voted NO. CFC opposes #SB233.”
🚨 #SB233 just passed the Senate Floor
This would allow Arizona Doctors to perform abortions in California through November 30, 2024.
Every Republican Senator voted NO.
CFC opposes #SB233
You can watch the entire hearing here: https://t.co/kb8232HQ4B
— CA Family Council (@CAFamily) May 21, 2024
The bill states, “Notwithstanding any other law, a physician who meets the requirements set forth in subdivision (b) shall register and may practice medicine in California through November 30, 2024, solely for the purpose of providing abortions, as defined in Section 123464 of the Health and Safety Code, and abortion-related care to patients who are Arizona residents traveling from Arizona seeking abortions or abortion-related care in California.”
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An Arizona abortionist who receives approval from the California Medical Board would be prohibited from providing actual health care or even consulting with a patient unless the consultation is related to an abortion and the patient is an Arizona resident. Once the Medical Board or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California receives the applicable documents required of an Arizona abortionist, they must register that abortionist within five business days.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said the bill is an example of “being a good neighbor.”
He claimed, “We’re already dealing with the absorption of people seeking [abortion] in the state of California. It’s up by 17 percent post-Dobbs in this state.” He added, “No state has more responsibility, more opportunity, but bigger burden than the state of California.”
Attorney General Rob Bonta likewise said, “California will continue to be a haven for those who provide and seek safe and legal abortion, including our neighbors in other states like Arizona who are forced to endure cruel and dangerous abortion bans.”
