Bill > AB54

This bill, known as the Access to Safe Abortion Care Act, is a comprehensive legislative effort to protect and affirm abortion access in California, particularly medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol. The bill responds to the 2022 Dobbs Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade by reaffirming California's commitment to reproductive rights and establishing legal protections for those involved in medication abortion. It provides detailed findings about medication abortion, noting that over 60% of abortions in the United States now use this method, and emphasizing its safety with only a 0.4% risk of major complications and an extremely low mortality rate. The bill explicitly states that it is lawful to deliver, mail, ship, transport, or receive drugs used for lawful abortions in California, and crucially, it protects manufacturers, distributors, healthcare providers, pharmacists, and individuals from civil, criminal, or professional liability when accessing, providing, or administering mifepristone or misoprostol in good faith and in accordance with applicable medical standards. The legislation applies retroactively to January 1, 2020, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest remains in effect. By doing so, the bill seeks to create a robust legal framework that safeguards reproductive healthcare options in California.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB54