(NewsWorthy.news) – Arizona doctors will be permitted to perform abortions across state lines once Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill that has been approved in the California legislature.
Senate Bill 233 would clear the way for physicians licensed in Arizona to receive permission to practice in California. This process—which would be paid for by a nonprofit—serves as a bypass to the Grand Canyon state’s 15-week abortion ban that went into effect after its near-total ban from 1864 was repealed.
California law allows abortion on demand until viability, which is around 24 weeks gestation. The Golden State has established a right to abortion in its constitution and its notoriously left-wing governor has declared it a “sanctuary” for abortion-minded women.
On Tuesday, May 21, the California Senate voted 30-8 to approve the bill, which had been passed in the State Assembly the week before. Newsom’s signature finalizing the measure is expected this week, at which point it would take immediate effect.
The state legislature has made moves to increase abortion availability to out of state mothers since the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Within California, legislators have secured over $200 million to fund abortion resources and passed well over a dozen legislative measures with the same intention.
With the push to provide more abortions, the need for additional facilities and training more medical professionals has posed strains on abortion resources as the demand increased with bans stretching across the States. Newsom’s office has expressed confidence that the new law will relieve some of that stress as well as offer abortions while Arizona continues to face its own legislative battles regarding the issue.
Senate Bill 233 was proposed by the governor’s office in April, following the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the 1864 abortion ban, which generally prohibited the practice. Even though the old law has been repealed via the governor’s signature, it could still take effect temporarily this fall as the decision is being challenged in court.
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