California voters will decide if the state’s constitution should be amended to include the right to abortion after the Democrat-led state legislature approved a measure to put the issue on the ballot Monday.
The amendment was introduced shortly after the Supreme Court draft opinion on abortion rights was leaked in May. The state legislature voted 58-16 in favor of the bill, and if approved by the voters in November, it would codify and expand California’s existing abortion access guarantees.
“Friday was a dark day. Today, we provide a ray of hope by enabling voters to enshrine reproductive rights in our constitution, reflecting California’s values and protecting all who need abortion, contraceptives, and other reproductive care in our state,” co-author of the bill, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins said.
The amendment would read, in part, “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.”
California’s law already allows anyone of reproductive age to obtain an abortion if the fetus is not yet “viable” or the mother’s life is in danger.
The amendment comes as Governor Gavin Newsom attempts to make California an abortion “sanctuary.”
Newsom signed an executive order Monday prohibiting other states and out-of-state individuals from seeking medical information on women having abortions in California.
“We’re not waiting until November to take action, today’s executive order ensures that the state will not hand over patients who come here to receive care and will not extradite doctors who provide care to out-of-state patients here. In California, women will remain protected,” Newsom said in a statement.
The state legislature is also weighing a package of 13 bills affiliated with Planned Parenthood to fund out-of-state women seeking an abortion with waived travel costs and accommodations.