California Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins recently introduced SB 1375, which can be a step towards providing early access to abortion care in California.
Introduced on Feb. 18, SB 1375 would help strengthen abortion care in the state by allowing nurse practitioners who meet certain criteria to be able to practice without physician supervision. The bill would refine provisions already set in place by other bills passed back in 2013 which includes Assembly member Jim Wood’s AB 890 and Atkins’ own AB 154.
AB 890 authorizes nurse practitioners who meet certain requirements to practice without physician supervision and defines eligibility for those who practice independently to include certification from a nationally-accredited certifying entity and completion of postgraduate transition to practice, which under AB 890 is set at three full-time years of practice while working under physician supervision.
AB 154 authorizes a nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant who completed a specified training program and achieved clinical competency to continue to perform abortions by aspiration techniques.
For California, this can prove to be aid since there is a current shortage of health care professionals — which has been noted by the Senate — and the bill can be beneficial since it would expand access to safe abortion care. Not only will it help Californians but also people from afar seeking a safe haven due to their own home states’ restrictions on abortions.
There are 21 states with active abortion restrictive laws in place currently, according to the Center for American Progress (CAP), a nonpartisan policy institute.
Back in 2021, there were 561 introduced abortion restrictions which came from every state excluding three. Of the 561 introduced 97 of them were enacted into law as of August 2021, according to CAP.
In early September 2021, Texas passed SB 8, which bans abortions after the six-week mark of pregnancy. This proves to be an issue since most women usually detect they’re pregnant around the 4-7 week mark of gestation.
“As we see patients forced to seek abortion and reproductive health care in California because of hostile bans in their home states, this legislation will improve the network of available providers by ensuring that nurse practitioners can provide care, including abortion, in independent settings and increase access to these services throughout the state,” said President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Jodi Hicks in a news release issued by Atkins.
There is a variety of different abortion care organizations but one of the leading providers is Planned Parenthood. The organization is supportive of SB 1375.
The bill is not without opposition.
California Family Council published a release on March 14 saying the “bill is an attempt to increase profits for abortion providers and combat the growing pro-life movement.” It also noted that “Democrats are willing to put mothers in danger and prioritize abortion access over women’s safety in order to further their radical abortion agenda.”
SB 1375 is currently before the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development.