Bill to Prevent Harassment Outside Health Clinics Signed
Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 340 authored by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) that will protect women from harassment and intimidation as they seek reproductive health care.
The bill removes a Jan. 1 sunset date on the current Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act. Under the Act, the attorney general is required to gather information related to anti-reproductive rights crimes.
Anti-reproductive rights crimes include anti-abortion protesters targeting or intimidating someone because they are a client or a provider of reproductive health care.
Jackson said, “The Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act is critical to ensuring access to reproductive health services. Without it, Californians could face discrimination as they exercise their constitutionally protected reproductive rights.”
“No woman should feel afraid when coming in for an annual exam or birth control. That’s why we supported SB 340. Planned Parenthood is dedicated to ensuring that our patients feel safe when accessing health services at our 115 health centers in California,” said Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
