April 13, 2015
New assault on human life: AB 775 would force
pregnancy centers to advertise abortion!
By Lori Arnold
Research Analyst
California’s grisly abortion industry is in the midst of a
government-sponsored boon. In 2013, the state waived safety
regulations for abortion clinics (AB 980) and reduced the medical
standards required to perform abortions by allowing certain
nurses to do the surgeries (AB 154). And last year, the California
Department of Health cut all medical reimbursements by 10
percent while increasing taxpayer funding of abortions providers by 40 percent.
But abortion profiteers like Planned Parenthood and NARAL are still not content with state taxpayers as their sugar daddy. They
are now pushing new discriminatory regulations that would force local Pregnancy Care Centers and Clinics (or PCCs, which provide
free and confidential support services to pregnant mothers) to advertise and promote chemical and surgical abortions.
Under the provisions of AB 775 (Chiu, D-San Francisco), PCC’s that provide medical services such as ultrasounds would be
required to refer all clients to Medi-Cal programs that provide free abortions. In addition, any non-medical centers that offer free
counseling, pregnancy support, and parenting classes would be required to post signage stating they are “not licensed facilities.” Both
types of PCCs would also be coerced to include such statements in all advertising.
AB 775 is scheduled for its first hearing tomorrow (Tuesday, April 14) in the Assembly Health Committee.
CareNet, one of the largest networks of pregnancy centers in North America, strongly opposes the legislation. In a statement on its
website, Eve Marie Barner Gleason, director of Center Best Practices, said the measure is clearly biased in its approach.
“The abortion industry in California has a problem,” she said. “They have already ensured a steady income stream by getting
abortion funded by taxpayers through Medi-Cal. But some women choose to seek information and assistance in making a pregnancy
decision at centers where they receive accurate information about abortion risks and are empowered to choose life. They see every
choice for life as money lost.”
Market share is undoubtedly a primary motivation for AB 775. But sadly, it goes even beyond money.
Much like militant atheists or gay-rights absolutists, the pro-abortion movement will not be satisfied until it silences all opposition to
its cause. At the same time, it defiantly rejects its own hypocrisy:
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Abortion extremists demand “disclaimers” for PCC’s, yet continually squelch scientific research that points to the physical and
mental risks associated with abortion.
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Abortion extremists dismiss repeated exposés that show clinics nationwide being filmed coaching patients how to circumvent
statutory rape reporting laws.
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Abortion extremists support California’s current policy that conceals state abortion statistics by refusing to release them to the
national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Abortion extremists cover up widespread incidents of botched abortions across the country, even as a main rallying cry for
legalized abortion is patient safety.
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Abortion extremists actively lobby for access to abortion under the guise of reproductive health, yet work overtime to try to
block anyone who supports the health of the unborn.
Unfortunately, if approved, AB 755 will become a dangerously powerful tool in the anti-life arsenal. As CareNet’s Gleason told her
member operators, “You pay for your advertising. Now, they want you to pay for theirs too.”
It is imperative that lawmakers hear your voice. For your convenience, CFA has provided a summary for AB 775, plus talking
points and a sample letter. You can find all other legislative action for this week at the very end of this weekly update.
ACTION ALERT!
AB 775 (Chiu D-San Francisco) Reproductive FACT Act.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: Billed as the Reproductive FACT (Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency) Act, the bill
requires pregnancy care clinics to post a notice in at least 22-point type stating “California has public programs that provide
immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services, prenatal care, and abortion, for eligible women.”
The bill would also require pregnancy care centers that provide counseling but not medical care to post a “scare notice” in at least
48-point type stating, among other things, that the facility “is not licensed as a medical facility by the State of California.” In
addition, both types of Pregnancy Care Centers would be forced to make the statements available in all advertising.
Failure to comply carries a $500 fine for first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. The bill authorizes the Attorney
General, city attorney, or county counsel to impose the civil fines.
Finally, the bill would also require the Attorney General to post on the Department of Justice's Internet Web site a list of the
covered facilities upon which a civil penalty has been imposed.
Assembly Health Committee
Talking points:
•
AB 775 violates the free speech rights of Pregnancy Care Centers by forcing them to promote abortions services that are
contrary to their deeply held religious beliefs.
•
AB 775 exempts Medi-Cal family planning providers, including abortion clinics, from its disclosure requirements.
•
AB 775 promotes viewpoint discrimination by forcing one-sided disclosures by Pregnancy Care Centers but not abortion
facilities.
•
AB 775 undermines licensed PCC medical clinics by suggesting they are not “legitimate” organizations since they do not
provide abortions.
•
AB 775 increases taxpayer liability, since abortion facilities are largely funded with government money. PCCs, on the other
hand, are funded and operated by concerned individuals, offering a wide range of pregnancy support services at no expense
to taxpayers.
AB 775 Sample letter
NOTE: Faxing letters is much more effective than telephone calls or emails, which are not always tracked. Since the deadline has
passed to have letters submitted for the official record, it is best to fax them directly to the individual committee members. Contact
information for each committee member is listed after the sample letter.
The Honorable Rob Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
State Capitol, Room 6005
Sacramento, California 95814
Re: AB 775 (oppose)
Dear Chairman Bonta,
On Tuesday, April 14, the Assembly Health Committee will hear testimony on AB 775, the Reproductive FACT (Freedom,
Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency) Act, which puts burdensome regulations on Pregnancy Care Centers and
Clinics.
These centers, which provide free care to all clients and help save taxpayer money, offer a wide range of pregnancy related
counseling and services to women. While well intentioned, I believe AB 775 unfairly targets these centers because of their
viewpoints, a direct violation of freedom of speech protections. Because the legal requirements of AB 775 do not apply to Medi-Cal
family planning providers that offer abortion services, the law is clearly discriminatory toward PCC’s.
Thousands of Californians receive free care and support from PCCs every year. To protect PCC’s freedom of speech, and to save
California taxpayers money, I respectfully request a no vote on AB 775.
Assembly Health Committee
Chair Rob Bonta (D-Oakland)
Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2018
Fax (916) 319-2118
District Office (510) 286-1670
[email protected]
Vice Chair Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2077
Fax (916) 319-2177
District Office (858) 675-0077
[email protected]
Susan Bonilla (D-Concord)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2014
Fax (916) 319-2014
District Office (925) 521-1511
[email protected]
Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2062
Fax (916) 319-2162
District Office (310) 412-6400
[email protected]
Rocky Chavez (R-Carlsbad)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2076
Fax (916) 319-2176
District Office (760) 433-7601
[email protected]
David Chiu (D-San Francisco)
Sacramento Office 916) 319-2017
Fax (916) 319-2117
District Office (415) 557-3013
[email protected]
Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2051
Fax (916) 319-2151
District Office (213) 483-5151
[email protected]
Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2080
Fax (916) 319-2180
District Office (619) 338-8090
[email protected]
Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2048
Fax (916) 319-2148
District Office (626) 960-4457
[email protected]
Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2036
Fax (916) 319-2136
District Office (661) 267-7636
[email protected]
Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2046
Fax (916) 319-2046
District Office (818) 376-4246
[email protected]
Jim Patterson (D-Fresno)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2023
Fax (916) 319-2023
District Office (559) 446-2029
[email protected]
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2054
Fax (916) 319-2054
District Office (310) 342-1070
[email protected]
Freddie Rodriguez (D-Chino)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2052
Fax (916) 319-2152
District Office (909) 902-9606
[email protected]
Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2053
Fax (916) 319-2153
District Office (213) 620-4646
[email protected]
Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2040
Fax (916) 319-2140
District Office (909) 466-9096
[email protected]
Tony Thurmond (D-Oakland)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2015
Fax (916) 319-2115
District Office (510) 286-1400
[email protected]
Marie Waldron (R-Escondido)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2075
Fax (916) 319-2175
District Office (760) 480-7570
[email protected]
Jim Wood (D-Eureka)
Sacramento Office (916) 319-2002
Fax (916) 319-2102
District Office (707) 445-7014
[email protected]
Legislative actions: Week of April 5
AB 517 (Gallagher R-Chico) The California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act: outside
consultants: parental consent.
Failed Assembly Education Committee, 5-1
Reconsideration granted
AB 526 (Holden D-Pasadena) Abduction.
Assembly Public Safety Committee, not heard
AB 987 (Levine D-San Rafael) Employment discrimination, unlawful employment practices.
Passed Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, 6-0
To Assembly Appropriations Committee
AB 1001 (Maienschein R-San Diego) Child abuse: reporting.
Assembly Public Safety Committee, not heard
SB 128 (Wolk-Vacaville) End of life.
Passed Senate Health Committee, 6-2
Passed Senate Judiciary Committee, as amended, 5-2
To Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 151 (Hernandez D-West Covina) Tobacco products: minimum legal age.
Passed Senate Health Committee, 9-0
To Senate Appropriations Committee
SB 283 (Nielsen R-Roseville) Elections: ballot titles and summaries.
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, heard, remains in committee
SB 414 (Jackson D-Santa Barbara) Marriage.
Passed Senate Judiciary Committee, as amended, 7-0
Senate second reading file
Scheduled hearings: week of April 13
Monday, April 13
AB 865 (Alejo D-Salinas) State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: grants and loans: diversity.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to require that each
recipient of a grant or loan, as a condition for the receipt of that grant or loan, annually submit a detailed and verifiable plan for
increasing procurement from women, minority, disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises, as defined, in all categories,
including, but not limited to, renewable energy, advanced technologies, and demonstration projects, and furnish an annual report
regarding the implementation of programs established pursuant to this requirement.
The bill would also require every grant or loan recipient to implement, an outreach program to inform and recruit women, minority,
disabled veteran, and LGBT business enterprises to apply for procurement contracts.
Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee
Tuesday, April 14
AB 775 (Chiu D-San Francisco) Reproductive FACT Act.
See more details including talking points and committee see lead story of this weekly update.
SB 110 (Fuller R-Bakersfield) Threats: Schools
CFA’s Assessment: Support.
Summary: Existing law makes it a crime to willfully threaten to commit a crime that will result in death or great bodily injury to
another person, with the specific intent that the statement is to be taken as a threat and which, on its face and under the
circumstances in which it is made, is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened
a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby causes that person reasonably to be in
sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family's safety.
This bill would also provide that a person who, by any means, including, but not limited to, by means of an electronic act, threatens
unlawful violence to occur upon the grounds of a school and that threat creates a disruption at the school, shall be punished by
imprisonment in a county jail for a term not exceeding one year. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated
local program.
Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 305 (Bates D-Carlsbad) Enhancements: concentrated cannabis.
CFA’s Assessment: Support.
Summary: This bill adds concentrated cannabis to a list of crimes in which additional enhancement sentences can be applied if a
child under the age of 16 is in a home where a person manufactures, compounds, converts produces, derives, processes, or
prepares a controlled substance. It also applies to the possession of specified chemicals with the intent to manufacture a
controlled substance.
Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 703 (Leno D-San Francisco) Public contracts: prohibitions: discrimination.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: Existing law authorizes state agencies to enter into contracts for the acquisition of goods or services upon approval by
the Department of General Services. This bill would prohibit a state agency from entering into contracts for the acquisition of goods
or services of $100,000 or more with a contractor that discriminates between employees on the basis of gender identity in the
provision of benefits, as specified. The bill would require the department to maintain an easily accessible list on its Internet Web
site of contracts for the acquisition of goods or services of $100,000 or more entered into on or after January 1, 2016.
Senate Governmental Organization Committee
SB 731 (Leno D-San Francisco) Foster children: housing: gender identity.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation by the Community Care Licensing Division of the State
Department of Social Services of various out-of-home facilities for children and nonminor dependents in foster care, including,
among others, licensed foster family homes, certified family homes, and group homes. Existing regulations prohibit children of the
opposite sex from sharing a bedroom in those placements unless each child is under five years of age.
This bill would require foster children and nonminor dependents in out-of-home-care to be placed according to their gender
identity, regardless of the gender or sex listed in their court or child welfare records. The bill would require the division to
promulgate regulations implementing these provisions. By expanding the duties of counties relating to the placement of foster
children and nonminor dependents, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Senate Human Services Committee
Scheduled hearings: week of April 20
Monday, April 20
SB 151 (Hernandez D-West Covina) Tobacco products: minimum legal age.
CFA’s Assessment: Support.
Summary: The bill would raise the legal age to purchase tobacco in California from 18 to 21. According to information from the
office of Senator Ed Hernandez, more than 90 percent of adult smokers begin the habit while still in their teens and an estimated
21,300 California kids start smoking each year.
Passed Senate Health Committee, 9-0
Senate Appropriations Committee
Tuesday, April 21
AB 526 (Holden D-Pasadena) Abduction.
CFA’s Assessment: Support
Summary: Existing law provides that any person who takes away another person under 18 years of age from the father, mother,
guardian, or other person having legal charge of the other person, without their consent, for the purpose of prostitution, is
punishable by imprisonment in the state prison and a fine not exceeding $2,000.
This bill would increase the punishment to include a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Assembly Public Safety Committee
AB 1001 (Maienschein R-San Diego) Child abuse: reporting.
CFA’s Assessment: Support
Summary: The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act requires a mandated reporter, as defined, to make a report to a specified
agency whenever the mandated reporter, in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, has
knowledge of or observes a child whom the mandated reporter knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse
or neglect. Under existing law, the failure to make this report is a crime.
This bill would prohibit a person from impeding or interfering with the making of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect by a
mandated reporter. The bill would provide that an intentional violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor and may subject the
offender to liability for actual damages sustained by a victim of child abuse or neglect for any abuse or neglect that occurs after the
person impeded or interfered with the report being made.
Assembly Public Safety Committee
AB 1212 (Grove R-Bakersfield) Postsecondary education: Student Freedom of Association Act.
CFA’s Assessment: Support.
Summary: This bill would require, as a condition of receiving state funds for student financial assistance, the governing board of
each community college district, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Board of Regents of the University of
California to adopt a policy prohibiting their respective campuses from discriminating against a student organization, as specified,
for imposing certain requirements on its leaders or voting members.
The bill would authorize a student or a student organization aggrieved by a violation of these provisions to commence a civil action
to obtain appropriate injunctive and declaratory relief as determined by a court. The bill would also authorize a court to award
attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff in a civil action pursuant to these provisions.
Assembly Higher Education Committee
SB 283 (Nielsen R-Roseville) Elections: ballot titles and summaries.
CFA’s Assessment: Support. We like this measure because it removes the political element in ballot measures by switching
oversight to the non-partisan Legislative Analysts office. Under current law, ballot proponents claim the Attorney General’s office
has used politics to manipulate wording for possible ballot measures. In addition, numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging
the Attorney General’s actions on certain proposed ballot measures. This bill would make the process more fair.
Summary: This bill would switch responsibility for preparing the ballot label and the ballot title and summary for all measures
submitted to the voters of the state from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst. Because the bill impacts the Political
Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, it requires a 2/3 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural
requirements.
Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
Wednesday, April 22
AB 329 (Weber D-San Diego) Pupil instruction: sexual health education.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: Existing law, the California Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Act, authorizes school
districts to provide comprehensive sexual health education, consisting of age-appropriate instruction, in any of kindergarten and
grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and requires school districts to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive HIV/AIDS
prevention education, as specified.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would review and update the current sexual health
education curriculum that is provided to pupils in schools to reflect the advances in age-appropriate sexual health instruction,
including, but not limited to, healthy relationships and dating violence.
Assembly Education Committee
AB 827 (O’Donnell D-Long Beach) Teachers: in-service training: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning pupil resources.
CFA’s Assessment: Oppose.
Summary: Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and provides for the
establishment of local educational agencies to operate these schools and provide instruction to pupils. Existing law states the
policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender
expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and
opportunities in the educational institutions of the state.
This bill would require each school operated by a school district or county office of education and each charter school to provide inservice training every school year to teachers of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, on schoolsite and community resources for the
support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning pupils, as specified.
Assembly Education Committee