One State Tells Public Schools: You Must Offer Abortions

California tells public universities to offer medical abortions in student health centers
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 12, 2019 11:00 AM CDT
In a First, One State Requires On-Campus Medical Abortions
People pass Ackerman Student Union on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles Friday, April 26, 2019.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Coming to a California university near you: abortion pills. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday ensuring that public universities will provide medication abortions at student health centers on campus starting in 2023, the Hill reports. This after the state assembly voted 55-19 in September to pass Senate Bill 24. "As other states and the federal government go backward, restricting reproductive freedom, in California we are moving forward, expanding access and reaffirming a woman's right (to) choose," says Newsom, per CNN. "We're removing barriers to reproductive health—increasing access on college campuses and using technology to modernize how patients interact with providers."

Indeed, the move is accompanied by others in pro-Democrat states seeking to increase abortion access while pro-GOP states pass measures to hinder it. As for the California law, it will offer medication abortion, a noninvasive and nonsurgical procedure to induce a miscarriage in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It makes California the first US state to require the procedure at public universities. But the plan is expensive and needs roughly $10.3 million in private funding. As expected, pro-life groups weren't thrilled: "Instead of empowering women with life-affirming options, CA is telling young women they aren't strong enough to succeed without killing their children," tweeted Lila Rose, who heads the group Live Action. (More abortion stories.)

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