Yay! California Abortion Access Bill Heads To Governor's Office

Widening the already-massive gap between blue and red states’ abortion legislature, a California bill drafted in April intended to expand abortion providers to include nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants and certified nurse midwives is on its way to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. The L.A. Times reports that it has passed legislative approval (which was expected) after being stalled briefly in the state Senate.

San Diego Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, who drafted the bill, aimed to make abortion more accessible to women in rural areas. She says that the rapid progress of the bill “reaffirms California’s status as a leader in the access for safe and comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all women, regardless of where they reside.”

The California Medical Association, usually loath to allow non-doctors to perform medical procedures, has signed off as well, saying their fears had been assuaged.