Introducing a bill last week, California Democrats, aim to protect medical providers, who mail abortion pills and transgender-related medications to other states. SB 345, would allow California healthcare providers to prescribe and dispense medications for abortion, contraception, and “gender-affirming care,” regardless of where the patient is located. It would allow healthcare providers to bring a lawsuit in California against anyone who “interferes” with their ability to do so.
The bill would also prohibit assistance or cooperation in the investigation into health care that is legally protected in California, by any state or local official or contractor. It would include abortions and transgender-related treatments and procedures. This bill would also prevent the extradition of anyone who is in California, for receiving or providing abortions and transgender-related treatments and procedures - if the care was initiated in California. This is according to State Sen. Nancy Skinner, who introduced the bill. Skinner said in a statement on Friday -
“Medication abortion is widely used and proven to be safe and effective, but with more and more states criminalizing reproductive health care providers and patients, access to this FDA-approved treatment and other services is being further restricted every day. Contraception and medication for gender-affirming care are also under attack. Under SB 345, California health care practioners [sic] will be able to provide essential reproductive and gender-affirming care that is legal in California, regardless of their patient’s geographic location, knowing that California is doing everything it can to protect them against the draconian laws of other states.” Adding…
“Since Roe was overturned last year, California has significantly strengthened and expanded access to reproductive health care and abortion services,” Skinner added. “But as the assault on essential health care accelerates, there is more to do. SB 345 will further protect our health care providers who are extending a lifeline to their patients who may be in a state where medically safe and effective treatments are now illegal.”
-Sen. Nancy Skinner, (D) CA
According to Skinner’s office, as an example, under the bill, someone who has traveled to or resides in Texas could contact a California medical provider and be prescribed abortion pills or birth control. The continued-
“Similarly, a California-based pharmacy would be able to ship the medication to Texas, and both the health care provider and the pharmacy would receive protections, as long as they are in California, from criminal and civil actions initiated in Texas,”. “The same would be true in the case of a person in Florida who contacts a California health care provider for gender-affirming care and a California pharmacy ships the medication.”
-Senator Skinners Office Spokesperson
Skinner’s office further stated that other states, including New York, Massachusetts, , Maryland, Connecticut, and Vermont are-
“proposing or passing similar laws that expand the ability of medical providers to provide care to patients, regardless of the patient’s location.”
-Senator Skinners Office Spokesperson
Comprised of several pro-abortion organizations, the bill is the product of ,105 from the California Future of Abortion Council (CA FAB Council). Hoping to make California an “abortion haven”, the council created a 45-policy abortion wish-list in 2021, and is partnering with the California Women’s Legislative Caucus, chaired by Skinner.
President of the Idaho Family Policy Center, Blaine Conzatti, a group that opposes abortion, said the legislation would “upend our federal system altogether.” Idaho notably outlaws most abortions, including medication abortions.
Responding to CA’s SB 345, Conzatti told PBS News Hour-
“The arrogance of such a proposal is astounding,” “It flaunts the traditional relationship between states and would upend our federal system altogether.”
-Blaine Conzatti, President, Idaho Family Policy Center
SB 345 was introduced by CA Democrats in response to lawmakers in some states with pro-life laws that have introduced legislation aimed at stopping abortion pill trafficking. Such as Texas State Rep. Cole Hefner (R) who has introduced legislation on March 10 which would remove legal immunity from out-of-state chemical abortion providers and manufacturers in the case of a wrongful death of a patient, which could be a pregnant mother or her unborn baby. Hefner said-
“We have enacted transformative pro-life laws in Texas, but more must be done,” “The deadly abortion pill regimen is everywhere, including in our state. Companies and smuggling networks are profiting from the barbaric death of children in the womb and neglecting the women who are harmed by taking these pills“…”They must not be allowed to escape their direct responsibility for the wrongful deaths of Texans simply because they reside outside our state, and this legislation ensures that will not be allowed to happen,”
-Rep. Cole Hefner (R) Texas
In an attempt to be all things to all persons, and sticking their nose into everyone’s state laws, California has again shown contempt for anyone who does not follow their lead in whatever circumstance. Now they are entering the domain of the other 49 states to forcibly enact California’s policies – using the U.S. postal service or other carrier to do so. It will likely take a federal law at this point to stop them and these other states, as listed above, to restore sanity to the Federal Republic.
If Californians wish to vote for abortion and transgender supportive medical services, they should be content to live with those policies within their own borders and not extend their liberal tentacles into the laws of others states who vote their own conscience. And while they delude themselves into thinking that they are helping – this bill will line the pockets of CA health-care practitioners, who likely are not offering these services out of state for free to their would-be clients.
It’s more likely about following the money. Abortion and these gender affirming practices are big money – no matter where they come from. It’s big business and California needs a piece of everyone else’s economy, because their broke, regardless of any altruistic position they may take.
“Privacy is not for sale, and human rights should not be compromised out of fear or greed.”
-Pavel Durov