Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Arizona Doctors Can Come to California to Perform Abortions Under New Law Signed by Gov. Newsom
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 months ago on
May 24, 2024

California's new law allows Arizona doctors to perform abortions in the state, a response to Arizona's reinstated abortion ban. The law takes effect immediately. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SACRAMENTO — Arizona doctors can temporarily come to California to perform abortions for their patients under a new law signed Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

California’s law is meant to give Arizonans an option to receive legal abortions from their doctor over the next several months. The move was a reaction to a recent Arizona Supreme Court decision to reinstate a law — first passed in 1864, but not enforced for decades — that bans nearly all abortions in Arizona, without exceptions for rape or incest.

The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 allowed states to set their own abortion laws. More than 20 states have since enforced abortion bans of varying degrees. In Arizona, it is still unclear exactly when — or if — the Civil War-era ban will be instituted. But the Democrats who control California’s Legislature didn’t want to take chances.

Details of the New Law

California’s new law, which takes effect immediately, allows licensed doctors in Arizona to come to California and perform abortions for their patients through the end of November.

The earliest the repeal could take effect is in the fall. The state Supreme Court granted a stay on enforcement until Sept. 26, and it could further be delayed because of a 45-day stay granted in a separate but related case.

The Arizona state Legislature quickly voted to repeal the 1864 law, and Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs promptly signed it. But the repeal won’t take effect until 90 days after the Arizona state Legislature’s session ends, which usually happens in June or July.

Currently, Arizona law allows abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Licensed Arizona doctors who want to perform abortions in California would still have to fill out an application. But if the doctors meet certain requirements, the law directs California regulators to approve their application within five business days.

California’s Stance on Reproductive Freedom

“California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom,” Newsom said.

He vowed to make the state a sanctuary for people in other states seeking abortions. California has passed dozens of laws to protect abortion access, including setting aside $20 million in taxpayer money to help pay for patients in other states to travel to California to get an abortion.

The law Newsom signed on Thursday does not include new money to help Arizona patients travel to California for abortions. But Newsom partnered with the advocacy group Red Wine and Blue to raise money from private donors to help Arizona patients travel to California.

The group, headquartered in Ohio and launched by the Arizona Freedom Trust, seeks to organize suburban women. It had raised just over $111,000 toward its nearly $500,000 goal, according to its website.

Newsom and his Democratic allies in the state Legislature worked quickly to get this law passed. But some Republicans questioned the need for it, given the uncertainty around the enforcement of the Arizona law and the state’s top officials opposed to its implementation.

But the Democrats who control the California Legislature pressed on.

“Once again California has made it crystal clear for all who need or deliver essential reproductive care: We’ve got your back,” said state Sen. Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley and the author of the bill.

The law says Arizona doctors would have to tell California regulators where they planned to perform abortions in the state. But the law bars California regulators from publishing any information on their website about Arizona doctors aside from the doctor’s name, status and license number.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

DON'T MISS

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

DON'T MISS

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

DON'T MISS

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

DON'T MISS

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

DON'T MISS

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

DON'T MISS

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

DON'T MISS

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

DON'T MISS

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

DON'T MISS

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

UP NEXT

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

UP NEXT

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

UP NEXT

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

UP NEXT

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

UP NEXT

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

UP NEXT

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

UP NEXT

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

UP NEXT

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

UP NEXT

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

44 mins ago

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

2 hours ago

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

2 hours ago

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

2 hours ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

2 hours ago

Clovis Unified Candidate Vue Says Voicemail Claiming Fraud Is Defamatory

2 hours ago

Middle East Latest: Dozens Killed in Gaza as Israel Says It Targeted a Weapons Facility

2 hours ago

Dak Prescott Likely out 4+ Games as Cowboys Place QB on IR With Hamstring Injury

2 hours ago

Tropical Storm Rafael Chugs Past Jamaica as Cuba Prepares for Another Hurricane Hit

2 hours ago

The Latest: Trump and Harris Cede Stage to Voters Who’ll Also Decide Control of House and Senate

2 hours ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

When the polls close Tuesday, we will be watching, of course, for statewide outcomes in the presidential battlegrounds. But as we wait for c...

5 mins ago

Residents vote early in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 3, 2024. While the nation awaits statewide results after the polls close on Election Day, a number of counties could provide hints on where the race is headed. (Nick Hagen/The New York Times)
5 mins ago

These 8 Counties Could Hint at Where the Election Is Headed

34 mins ago

Israel’s Netanyahu Dismisses Defense Minister in Surprise Announcement

38 mins ago

Cryptocurrency Markets, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

44 mins ago

Trump, Vance and Allies Hurl Insults at Women as Race Ends

2 hours ago

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions Get Za’Darius Smith, Cowboys Add Jonathan Mingo

2 hours ago

Palestinians in Gaza Fear Neither Candidate in US Election Will Help Them

2 hours ago

Pennsylvania Election Officials Weighing in on Challenges to 4,300 Mail Ballot Applications

2 hours ago

Ukrainian Troops Have Engaged With North Korean Units for the 1st Time in Russia, an Official Says

Search

Send this to a friend