Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB24 into law, expanding and protecting access to comprehensive reproductive health care for California college students by making medication abortion available at student health centers.
In response, Physicians for Reproductive Health Fellow Dr. Sarah McNeil issued the following statement:
“I applaud Governor Gavin Newsom for passing this groundbreaking piece of legislation, ensuring California students have access to medication abortion in their own communities. California has long been a national leader in promoting reproductive health access, including access to abortion, and this landmark legislation means we continue to lead the way. The success of this bill is thanks in huge part to the student advocates who made their voices heard about the health care they need and mobilized to make change.
The success of this bill is thanks in huge part to the student advocates who made their voices heard about the health care they need and mobilized to make change.
“Abortion is an essential and routine part of reproductive health care. Since medication abortion is only effective in early pregnancy, timely access is critical. When university students have to go off-campus for care, it can cause significant barriers and ultimately a delay in obtaining the abortion they need. School-based health centers can easily offer this service, and this bill includes private funding and technical assistance support so that health centers have all the resources they need to integrate this service.
“This is a perilous time for abortion access. I commend Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law and continuing to forge the path forward. Action is more critical now than ever before.”
