California Governor Signs "Infanticide" Bill as California Works To Become the Most Radical Abortion State

On September 27, 2022, Governor Newsom signed what amounts to a perinatal infanticide bill, AB 2223 (along with 12 other pro-abortion bills). As we’ve informed you, AB 2223 is especially egregious because it prevents coroners from investigating the deaths “related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortion,” including deaths of babies during the “perinatal” period – which is up to 28 days after birth. The bill also protects individuals from criminal or civil liability for the death of an infant during the perinatal period, if the death is “due to causes that occurred in utero.” As we have explained extensively, this new law may very well have the effect of decriminalizing infanticide.

We warned Governor Newsom that AB 2223 “changes California law in a way that radically undermines protection for newborns.” While the law looks like it prevents criminal or civil charges from being brought only in limited circumstances, by restricting coroners from conducting investigations and by including a provision that imposes hefty penalties for a violation of the law, California has effectively removed protections for newborns during at least the first 28 days of their lives.

This is infanticide. Just like abortion, it is the murder of an innocent human being. But in this case, there’s no opportunity for the Left to say “it’s just a blob of cells.” This law is not only allowing but requiring that the death of babies—who are born alive, citizens of the United States, and should be afforded all the rights that our Constitution is designed to protect, including the most basic of all, the right to life—go un-investigated and unpunished.

The passage of this bill into law is a perfect example of the fact that radical abortionists will never stop pushing to expand the killing of babies.

In addition to AB 2223, Governor Newsom signed 12 other bills that expand abortion in California:

AB 2091: prohibits any person from being compelled to identify or provide information related to a woman who sought or obtained an abortion if the “information is being requested based on another state’s laws that interfere with a person’s right to choose or obtain an abortion or a foreign penal civil action,” and prohibits “prison staff from disclosing identifying medical information related to an incarcerated person’s right to seek and obtain an abortion.”

AB 1242: prohibits any authorization to intercept communications for the purpose of investigating or recovering evidence of someone who seeks to receive or assists in performing an abortion. The bill also prohibits state or local law enforcement from arresting someone who obtains or performs and abortion, as well as state or local agencies from providing information regarding abortion recipients to out-of-state individuals or agencies. Lastly, the bill prohibits judicial officers, court employees, and attorneys from issuing subpoenas in connection to proceedings regarding abortions in other states.

SB 523: expands the coverage of contraceptives in healthcare service plans and insurance policy, such as including coverage for over-the-counter FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products. The bill also requires the healthcare policies of private and public California colleges and universities to comply with this new rule. Lastly, the bill revises the California Fair Employment and Housing Act to include “protection for reproductive health decision-making, as defined, with respect to the opportunity to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination.”

SB 1375: eases the requirements to become a nurse who performs an abortion. Further, the bill would allow a nurse practitioner who has completed training to perform an abortion without supervision by a physician and surgeon. Lastly, the bill shields certain persons authorized to perform abortion “by aspiration techniques,” which are particularly gruesome, from being punished, held liable, or being denied any right or privilege relating to their evaluation of clinical competency.

AB 657: requires the “Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the Board of Registered Nursing, and the Physician Assistant Board” to expedite their licensure processes for applicants seeking to obtain certification to perform abortions.

AB 2626: prohibits the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California from suspending or revoking a doctor’s certificate solely for performing an abortion if the abortion was in accordance with provisions of the Medical Practice Act and Reproductive Privacy Act. This bill also prohibits licensing boards from denying applications of those who have been disciplined in another state for performing abortions in their respective states. (One can only wonder if convicted murderer and infanticide abortion specialist Kermit Gosnell would be welcome to practice again in California under this law.)

AB 2205: “[r]equires Covered California plans to report annually the total amounts of funds collected in special accounts for abortion care which was established under the ACA to hold premium payment of $1 per member per month and from which claims for abortion care must be paid.”

SB 1142: requires the state to create a website for the purposes of providing information to the public regarding abortion services across the state. The bill also requires the State Department of Health Care Access and Information to annually evaluate state abortion grants and report their findings to the Legislature. Lastly, the bill specifies that it should be “construed to effectuate its legislative intent to support access to abortion in California” and reiterate California’s status as a “reproductive freedom state.”

SB 1245: appropriates $20,000,000 to establish the “Los Angeles County Abortion Access Safe Haven Pilot Program” for the purposes of expanding abortion access in Los Angeles. The bill also exempts “specified program information” from disclosure to the public.

AB 1918: establishes the “California Reproductive Health Service Corps” to recruit, train, and retain “a diverse workforce of reproductive health care professionals” to expand abortion access in underserved areas of the state. The bill also creates scholarships and stipends for “scholars” who seek careers in the fields of reproductive health, as well as establishes a loan repayment system in exchange for a 3-year term of service in California “at a corps-approved site.” In addition, the bill requires the corps to prioritize membership to those of “historically excluded populations,” and would require abortion training as part of member health care education.

AB 2134: establishes the “California Reproductive Health Equity Program” to ensure abortion services are affordable and accessible to all, including abortion at no cost for those at the federal poverty level. This bill also establishes funding for this program, thus making a continuously appropriated state fund. Furthermore, the bill requires health care providers to provide to their clients and the State Department of Industrial Relations to post on its website information regarding services covered through this new program.

AB 2586: establishes the “California Reproductive Justice and Freedom Fund,” which requires the State Department of Public Health to award grants to “community-based organizations” over a 3-year period. The grant will require the recipient to use the funds to promote their program in providing “medically accurate, comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education.”

All these abortion laws now bear the signature of a rabid abortion activist, Governor Newsom. But, Governor Newsom isn’t content to keep his radical abortion views confined to California. He’s put up billboards in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and other pro-life states advertising for abortion. It gets even more disgusting. On these billboards, Governor Newsom has included Scripture:

“Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.” Mark 12:31.

Well, Governor Newsom, Scripture also says “Love does no harm to a neighbor.” Abortion not only ends the life of an innocent human being, but it harms the mother (and father) of the child in many ways.

As our Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow put it: “The idea that Newsom is using the words of Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures, to promote the killing of unborn children as somehow loving and commanded by God is quite frankly disgusting.”

While moments where evil seems to win – as with the passage of AB 2223 – are difficult and discouraging, Scripture calls us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” Proverbs 31:8-9.

And that’s just what we intend to do. The fight against the killing of innocent human beings is one in which we all need to engage. We cannot afford to be silent. As the passage of AB 2223 has proven, abortion activists will never be satisfied – they are the epitome of those described in Scripture: “The bloodthirsty hate blameless people . . . .” But, as the rest of that Scripture states: “the upright seek to help them.” Proverbs 29:10.

Join us as we continue to fight for the preborn. Sign our petition today.