Arizona abortion providers will now be able to temporarily provide their services to Arizona patients traveling to California, after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a new law Thursday.
The bill, titled Senate Bill 233, allows abortion providers in Arizona to quickly be approved to work in California. It was introduced by Newsom last month, following the Arizona Supreme Court’s near-total abortion ban, which has since been overturned.
Under the new law, licensed Arizona doctors can fill out an application to perform abortions, and if they meet certain requirements, California regulators are required to approve their application within five business days.
The proposal passed the California State Senate 30-8 on Tuesday, with support from the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.
“Arizona Republicans tried to turn back the clock to 1864 to impose a near-total ban on abortion throughout their state. We refuse to stand by and acquiesce in their oppressive and dangerous attacks on women,” Newsom said. wrote in a statement Thursday, later adding: “California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom.”
In announcing the bill last month, Newsom called it a “valuable stopgap” even in the event the Arizona Legislature repeals the ban, which it eventually did.
Arizona is the latest state to face the issue of abortion access after the state Supreme Court last month upheld the state’s 1864 ban on nearly all abortions except in cases to save the mother’s life. The law also imposed prison sentences for doctors who perform abortions.
The 160-year-old law was never repealed and remained in effect for decades. The GOP-appointed state Supreme Court ruled 4-2 that the ban could be enforced because Roe v. Wade. Wade was overruled.
The Arizona legislature approved the repeal of the ban, which was quickly signed by Governor Katie Hobbs (D).
Once the repeal takes effect, the state will return to the 15-week ban signed into law by former governor Doug Ducey (R) in 2022.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
