CWA of California September Legislative Update
The 2019 state legislative session is now over, and the news is mixed. A few bad bills are being held over until next year, though, several dangerous measures are now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. It’s Time to Ask for Vetoes!
Please read more about these egregious bills below and contact the governor asking for his veto. He has until October 13 to sign or veto bills. If he does nothing, they will automatically become law without his signature. So, we MUST ask for vetoes – and soon. He could act on these any day.
To contact Gov. Newsom, call 916-445-2841 or go to his contact page and fill out the online form here.
SB 24 – Medical Abortions on Public University Campuses
Early abortions should not be part of the mission of California’s public universities. SB 24 (Sen. Connie Leyva’s, D-Chino) will require campus clinics to provide chemical abortions up to 10 weeks of pregnancy to college students on the University of California and California State University campuses. This bill is deadly to tiny preborn babies, dangerous for the mothers, and unnecessary. There are already abortion clinics near every one of these campuses. Further, the California Department of Finance issued its review of this bill after Gov. Newsom promised to sign it. That review shows significant costs over and above the “private” funding called for in the bill. For the UC system alone, the report lists $7.8 million in start-up costs and millions more annually – at taxpayer expense! Please ask the governor to veto SB 24.
AB 175 – Children’s Rights in Foster Care
Asm. Mike Gipson’s (D-Compton) foster care bill, AB 175, would allow 10-year-olds to review their foster care plans and require that all foster kids have prompt access to “reproductive and sexual health care,” including “gender-affirming health care and gender-affirming mental health care.” It also gives these at-risk children the right “[a]t any age, to consent to or decline services regarding contraception, pregnancy, and perinatal care, including, but not limited to, abortion services and health care services for sexual assault without the knowledge or consent of any adult.” The bill also requires foster parents to participate in training for cultural competency and sensitivity involving LGBTQ issues and to use names and pronouns preferred by the child – regardless of how it may conflict with their closely held religious beliefs or conscience. Help protect foster kids AND foster parents by asking Gov. Newsom to veto AB 175.
AB 624 – Student ID’s to Contain Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Numbers
Jesse Gabriel’s (D-L.A.) troubling bill requires that all public and charter school identification cards for students in grades 7-12 include a resource number for “sexual and reproductive health care information” that is “comprehensive and medically accurate” and consistent with requirements of the CA Healthy Youth Act. It is anticipated that most schools will use hotlines for Planned Parenthood or similar organizations. Students should not be forced to advertise for Planned Parenthood. Please ask Gov. Newsom to veto AB 624.
Please pray with me! Prayer is a powerful force!
Lord, please bless us as we raise up our voices in California. May Your Biblical standards set the morality of our state. In Your Word, Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Empower us, Lord, with the courage to speak up for what is right, according to your Word. Lord, we ask that Your will be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for making a difference with your prayers, action, and donations to our work in California! You are both needed and appreciated.
Marlo Tucker
State Director
CWA of California