Support for AB1955 (SAFETY Act):
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest is a proud member of the Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition, which strongly supported the passage of Assembly Bill 1955 (AB 1955), also known as the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth (SAFETY Act), introduced by the California LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus and Assemblymember Chris Ward. The SAFETY Act strengthens existing California protections against forced outings of LGBTQ+ students in schools and provides critical resources for parents and families of LGBTQ+ students to support them in working towards family acceptance on their own terms.
As of Monday, July 15, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the SAFETY Act into law, ensuring a significant step forward in prioritizing safety and support for all students, regardless of their gender identity.
The Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition affirms that schools should be safe spaces for learning regardless of students’ sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For more information on the Riverside County LGBTQ+ Student Safety Coalition, visit voteforchoice.org/studentsafetycoalition.
California State Budget
On Saturday, June 29, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 2024 state budget legislation that proposes to bring stability to state finances, while preserving key investments in safety net programs, education, addressing homelessness, mental health care reform, and more.
As outlined in the agreement announced by the Governor and legislative leaders, the legislation balances the budget in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. It also preserves budget resilience by maintaining $22.2 billion in total reserves at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The state has taken several measures to manage revenue volatility in recent budget cycles, including setting aside a record amount of reserves, focusing most of the surplus on one-time and near-term spending instead of potentially unsustainable long-term and ongoing obligations, and paying tens of billions of dollars toward the state’s long-term debt.
While the Governor’s budget proposed in January and again in May presented a serious budget shortfall – the Governor’s January budget maintained the 2023-24 agreements related to the MCO tax and spend, and unfortunately the May Revision proposed to eliminate those investments – Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California remains committed to working with the Governor’s office and legislative leaders to ensure that investments and legislation are reflective of California’s values as a reproductive freedom state and secure investments in Medi-Cal specific to sexual and reproductive health.
Vote YES on Prop 35
We are members of and in support of the Yes on 35 Campaign. Prop 35 will address our most urgent health care priorities by securing ongoing revenue – without raising taxes on individuals – and dedicating these funds to protect and expand access to care at primary care and specialty care physicians, community health clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, family planning and mental health providers.
“Prop 35 is critically important to protect care for more than 15 million vulnerable Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for access to health care, as well as to address the health care crisis facing all Californians” said Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President & CEO and Co-Chair of the YES on 35 campaign. “This measure is essential in ensuring all Californians have equitable access to health care. This is a big step as we move toward Election Day.”
Proposition 35 would extend an existing levy on health insurance companies set to expire next year. Importantly, Prop 35 prevents the state from redirecting these funds for other purposes.
Sponsored Bills Update
All of PPAC’s sponsored bills moved from their house of origin to the next house and will continue to move through the legislative process. The Legislature is currently in recess for summer break until August 5. When they return, they will have until August 31 to pass any bills. The following is a rundown of our sponsored bills:
- SB 1131 (Gonzalez) – Addresses impediments to the Family PACT to the Family PACT program to improve and streamline the ability for health care providers to serve California’s Family PACT patients.
- SB 959 (Menjivar) – Establishes an online resource that offers information to patients, health care providers, and families about available support for TGI individuals and their families in California.
- AB 2085 (Bauer-Kahan) – Prohibits municipal interference with the delivery of constitutionally protected health care services by establishing a streamlined ministerial approval process for development of new health centers.
- AB 2099 (Bauer-Kahan) – Updates penalties for violations of the FACE Act when use of force, threat of force, or bodily injury takes place.
- AB 2339 (Aguiar-Curry) – Requires Medi-Cal coverage of asynchronous telehealth services and addresses barriers to accessing care via mobile apps and other asynchronous modalities.
- AB 2442 (Zbur) – Ensures that licensure applications for providers of gender-affirming care are prioritized to support a robust network of providers in the state.
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