WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood has provided critical reproductive health care services for 100 years to millions of women, men, and their families; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood is a critical component of California and the nations health care system, providing cancer screenings, birth control, and reproductive care to women throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthoods seven California affiliates serve nearly one million women in 115 health centers throughout our state, many of whom could not access or afford care elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood has been a safe, culturally sensitive, and secure health care provider where one-in-five women in the nation have sought confidential, professional, and compassionate care; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthoods doors are open to everyone no matter his or her age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, or immigration status; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of women and men are safe and healthy today because of the care they received at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, Access to contraceptive care and abortion services have enabled tens of millions of women to exercise autonomy over their reproductive lives, attain educational equity, and attain economic security; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood is under attack from those in government who seek to overturn the landmark United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade and shut the doors of health centers providing abortion services, including Planned Parenthood; and

WHEREAS, The incoming presidential administration has vowed to defund Planned Parenthood, appoint United States Supreme Court justices who will repeal the Roe v. Wade decision, and deny millions of women adequate access to care; and

WHEREAS, The California State Assembly supports making sure all women have the ability to select a health care provider of their choice; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the California State Assembly opposes all proposals in the United States Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, to limit Planned Parenthoods ability to serve its clients, and all efforts to appoint judges who have a record of opposing equal health care rights for all women; and be it further

Resolved, That the California State Assembly will work with stakeholders and others to ensure that our Congressional representatives understand our steadfast commitment to womens rights and pledge to oppose any plans by the incoming presidential administration that threatens the Roe v. Wade decision or defunds Planned Parenthood; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk provide copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Date of Hearing: January 13, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON

, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:

Author:( and Cristina Garcia) – As Ver:

SUBJECT:

SUMMARY: Resolves that the California State Assembly opposes all proposals in the United States Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, to limit Planned Parenthood’s ability to serve its clients, and all efforts to appoint judges who have a record of opposing equal health care rights for all women. Specifically, this resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Planned Parenthood has provided critical reproductive health care services for 100 years to millions of women, men, and their families.
2. Planned Parenthood is a critical component of California and the nation’s health care system, providing cancer screenings, birth control, and reproductive care to women throughout the nation.
3. Planned Parenthood’s seven California affiliates serve nearly one million women in 115 health centers throughout our state, many of whom could not access or afford care elsewhere.
4. Planned Parenthood’s doors are open to everyone no matter his or her age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, or immigration status.
5. Thousands of women and men are safe and healthy today because of the care they received at Planned Parenthood health centers throughout the nation.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose of the resolution: In support of the resolution, the author states:

This resolution demonstrates to California’s Congressional representatives our state’s steadfast commitment to women’s rights. California will continue to affirm through its constitution, laws, and policies that every woman has the fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions and have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including services provided by Planned Parenthood.

If the federal budget reconciliation bill includes the defunding of Planned Parenthood it could mean the loss of critical health services for nearly one million Californians each year. Some of the services at risk include: contraception to nearly 631,000 patients, nearly 307,000 emergency contraception kits, one million pregnancy tests, 96,000 cervical cancer screenings, more than 75,000 breast exams, one and a half million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, and sexual health education programs reaching 207,000 Californians.

1. Prior legislation: HR 5 is similar to a number of prior resolutions, including: HR 32 (Atkins, 2016), SJR 19 (Jackson, 2016), SR 55 (Jackson, 2014), and SR 10 (Jackson, 2013).
2. Related legislation: SR 9 (Jackson, 2017) resolves that the California State Senate opposes all proposals to defund Planned Parenthood, to limit its ability to serve its clients, and to appoint judges who have a record of opposing equal health care rights for all women. SR 9 is pending in the Senate Rules Committee.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (Sponsor)

AFSCME, AFL-CIO

American Civil Liberties Union of California

Essential Access Health

NARAL Pro-Choice California

National Council of Jewish Women-CA

Positive Women’s Network - USA

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: (916) 319-2800