Introduced by Senator Atkins and Assembly Member Rendon
Co-authored by members comprising a super majority of both Senate and Assembly
This bill would add to the November ballot an amendment to Section 1 of the California State Constitution to add Section 1.1 as follows:
SEC. 1.1.
The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. This section is intended to further the constitutional right to privacy guaranteed by Section 1, and the constitutional right to not be denied equal protection guaranteed by Section 7. Nothing herein narrows or limits the right to privacy or equal protection.
POSTED: June 12, 2022
STATUS: Senate Judiciary, hearing 06/14/2022
POSITION: Oppose
Thoughts for consideration:
· With little time remaining to put a measure on the ballot in November, the Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker introduced this bill on June 8 with the first hearing schedules less than a week later. Why the last-minute fast-tracking?
· The state constitution would thus prohibit any statutory limitation to abortion up to the moment of birth.