Gov. Newsom Enacts Law to Safeguard Abortion Access for Arizona Residents in California

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom May 23 signed SB 233 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland) and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) to allow Arizona abortion providers to temporarily provide abortion care to patients from Arizona who travel to California for that care. 

Last month, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to reimpose a regressive 1864 law imposing a near-total abortion ban and threatening to almost completely curtail access to abortion care in Arizona. Arizona’s leaders have been hard at work repealing the ban and challenging its enforcement in court. Meanwhile, Gov. Newsom and the California Women’s Caucus acted to put in place a backstop for Arizonans by quickly passing legislation through both houses and sending it to the Governor’s desk. 

The Governor’s signature on SB 233 will immediately allow Arizona abortion care providers in good standing to register to provide abortion care on a temporary basis in California to patients from Arizona. The signing builds on the Governor’s efforts to defend and advance reproductive rights and women’s health care, even before the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Arizona’s leaders have taken steps to block the reimposition of the 1864 abortion ban. But given the uncertainty and confusion the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision has caused, California acted to assure Arizonans that they will continue to be able to access the reproductive health care they need and deserve if the 1864 ban goes into effect.

Gov. Newsom, in partnership with the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, has temporarily authorized licensed Arizona abortion care providers in good standing to provide care to Arizonans here in California — meaning they could cross the border and continue to provide care legally to their Arizona patients. While enforcement of the 1864 bill remains uncertain, SB 233 provides a critical stopgap for Arizona patients and providers.

Now through Nov. 30, 2024, Arizona doctors will be able to provide abortions and abortion-related care for Arizona patients in California if the absolute ban takes effect – even temporarily – and to facilitate continued access to care when Arizona’s 15-week ban goes into effect. California shares a roughly 200-mile-long border with Arizona.  Thanks to partners Essential Access and Red, Wine, and Blue, additional costs Arizona providers and patients would face would be offset through philanthropic funds.

About the law

SB 233 will temporarily allow licensed Arizona doctors in good standing to provide abortion and abortion-related care to Arizona patients traveling to California through Nov. 30, 2024. The Arizona doctors would be under the oversight of California’s Medical Board and Osteopathic Medical Board and would be required to first provide registration information to those boards before providing abortion care in California. The bill contains an urgency clause and takes effect immediately.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/AZ-abortion-bill