You can search the California bills online by clicking here and using the keyword box enter the bill's number. The Legislative Analyst's Office provides updated information as actions, amendments, analyses, and votes occur.

CALIFORNIA STATE BILLS

AB 1121 - Sentencing: Death Penalty - Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties): Existing law establishes the sentence of death as the penalty for certain crimes under particular circumstances, as specified. This bill would place a moratorium on the carrying out of any executions, as specified, until certain criteria are met, or, failing that, until January 1, 2009, as specified. Supported by the California Catholic Conference and various religioins organizations. Opposed by various statewide Criminal Justice organizations and individuals. Died in committee hearings.

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AB 1427 - Abortion: saving tissue for evidence - Assemblymember Dennis Mountjoy (R-San Bernardino County): This bill would require a physician and surgeon performing an abortion on a minor to retain sufficient tissue of the aborted fetus to permit DNA testing for the purpose of determining paternity and establishing the guilt or innocence of the accused in any criminal action regarding sexual crimes relating to the aborted pregnancy. According to the author, there are "…too frequent reports of older men, including those in positions of trust including even teachers, coaches, clergy, and youth leaders, who have been sexually involved with minors and have impregnated minors. Many other cases involve older minors and young men who impregnate minors." Because of "California's ready availability of abortions, without any knowledge or consent of parents or guardians, provides a convenient way for men who rape and sexually abuse minors to cover up their crimes by coercing, intimidating, and manipulating the minor to undergo an abortion…."
* This bill was supported by Capital Resource Institute Eagle Forum of Sacramento, and the Traditional Values Coalition.
* This bill was opposed by American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, California Family Health Council, Inc., Planned Parenthood Federation and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of several Southern California Counties.
On January 31, 2006 this bill died in committee.

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AB 2512 - Fetal pain prevention: - Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville): Existing law, the Therapeutic Abortion Act, contains provisions regulating abortions, including a requirement that the procedure be performed by a physician and surgeon. This bill would enact the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006, to require, with an exemption for medical emergency, the physician performing the abortion to offer to the pregnant woman information and counseling on fetal pain. This bill is similar to SB 147 below, introduced by Senator George Runner, but it unfortunately died in committee in 2005. This bill passed in the Judiciary Committee but failed passage in the democrat controlled Health Committee on April 25, 2006.

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ACA 3 - Solidifying Prop 22; Protecting Marriage - Assemblymember Ray Haynes (R-Riverside, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore): ACA 3 would amend the state constitution to state: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere. The rights, responsibilities, benefits, and obligations of marriage shall only be granted, bestowed, and conferred upon a man and a woman joined in a valid marriage, and may not be conferred upon any other union or partnership." Note: Not only does this amendment protect and preserve marriage in our state constitution (which wouldn't be necessary if there wasn't a strong movement in the legislature to undermine and completely disregard the will of the voters expressed in Prop 22), it also would make domestic partnerships unlawful.. The people of California have already decided (Prop 22) that it should be drawn at "one man and one woman." This bill failed passage in the Assembly Judiciary Committee On June 20, 2005.

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ACR 1 - Urging Prop 71 Accountability - Assemblymember Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino, Montclair, Ontario and Pomona): This resolution urges the oversight committee established under Prop 71 (the proposition funding embryonic stem cell research), to adopt robust conflict-of-interest standards for itself and for the members of its working groups, to comply with standards set forth in the open meeting laws of public agencies, to comply with the public record laws, and to report to the legislature. Note: Prop 71 conveniently exempted the embryonic stem cell research efforts from all of these safeguards. The taxpayers funding this outrageously expensive (and ethically/morally shameful) initiative deserve to have the oversight committee report on how they are using public funds. Without accountability, corruption will prevail. (See also SB 18) This bill was chaptered into law on September 19, 2005.

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SB 18 - Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) Reproductive health and research: This bill was originally determined to be an Anti-Life bill. However, subsequent amendments have changed it to legislation to control and provide oversight of the Anti-Life Embryonic Stem Cell research legislation (Proposition 71 of 2004). Existing law establishes the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee (ICOC), composed of appointed members, that is required to perform various functions and duties with regard to the operation of the institute, in the conducting of embryonic stem cell cloning and killing. This bill would 1) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that the ICOC define which positions would be subject to the Political Reform Act and that the requirements for the reporting of economic interest be commensurate with those required of certain public officials; 2) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that these rules include certain economic disclosure requirements, and that the state open meeting requirements apply to meetings of the working groups; 3) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that a physician and surgeon, prior to providing assisted oocyte production, as defined, for purposes of donating eggs for medical research or for fertility treatments, obtain written consent from his or her patient and provide to his or her patient a standardized written summary of health and consumer issues that would be developed by the State Department of Health Services; 4) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that a physician and surgeon or other health care provider delivering fertility treatment to provide his or her patient with timely, relevant, and appropriate information to allow the individual to make an informed and voluntary choice regarding the disposition of any oocytes (female eggs or egg cells) remaining following the fertility treatment; 5) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature to prohibit human oocytes or embryos from being acquired, sold, received, or otherwise transferred for valuable consideration, and to prohibit payment in excess of the amount of reimbursement of expenses to be made to any research subject to encourage her to produce human oocytes for the purposes of medical research; 6) declare that it is the intent of the Legislature that every contract, award, grant, loan, or other arrangement entered into by a state entity that provides state funding or other resources for biomedical research ensure that, among other things, the arrangement does not result in a gift of public funds and that the state is provided a share of the royalties or revenues derived from the development of clinical treatments, products, or services resulting from the research; and 7) require the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the institute and the ICOC and to provide the audit report to the Legislature by no later than March 31, 2006. Passed in both houses of the legislature, enrolled and submitted to the Governor. However, the Governor vetoed this bill.
*This bill is supported by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, California Catholic Conference.
The bill was vetoed by the Governor on September 29, 2005.

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SB 116 - Child Abandonment: Newborns - Senator Robert Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga): California is one several states that have enacted "Safe Haven" laws. A mother may within 72 hours of giving birth, safely surrender her child to a hospital or other designated location. The mother may remain anonymous. The law expires in 2006. This bill makes the law permanent.
*This bill is supported by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (co-source), San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors (CO-source), Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (CO-source), Guardian of Angels and Project Cuddle (CO-source), Santa Clara County Fire Department, Social Services Agency, Santa Clara County, California Catholic Conference, Milpitas Fire Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff, Family Law Section of the State Bar of California, California Right to Life Committee, San Bernardino County, California Medical Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California. *This bill is opposed by California Open, Bay Area Birthmothers Association, Bastard Nation.
This bill was chaptered into law on October 17, 2005.

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SB 147 - Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2005 - Senator Runner (R-Lancaster): This bill would, require, with an exemption for medical emergency, the physician performing the abortion to offer to the pregnant woman information and counseling on fetal pain. This bill would require the State Department of Health Services to develop a related brochure and a waiver form, would require the California Medical Board to adopt regulations for revocation or suspension of medical licenses for violation of these provisions, and would authorize the Attorney General and the woman or her family to bring a civil action for damages and penalties for violation of these provisions. On April 5, 2005 the Committee hearing was canceled. This bill died in committee on February 1, 2006.

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SB 1487 - Coerced abortion - Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Temecula/El Cajon): This bill would prohibit a physician or surgeon from performing an abortion unless he or she has obtained the written assurance from the patient that she understands that she may not be coerced into having an abortion, and that her decision to have an abortion is voluntary. The bill would require a signed form to that effect be placed in the patient's chart. This bill is supported by the California Catholic Conference. Opponents include the ACLU and Planned Parenthood Affiliates. This bill failed passage in committee on April 19, 2006.

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SCA 1 - Solidifying Prop 22; Protecting Marriage - Senator Bill Morrow (R-North San Diego and South Orange Counties): SCA 1 would amend the state constitution to state: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere. The rights, responsibilities, benefits, and obligations of marriage shall only be granted, bestowed, and conferred upon a man and a woman joined in a valid marriage, and may not be conferred upon any other union or partnership." Note: This legislation was also introduced in the Assembly as ACA 3. This bill is opposed by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and NARAL Pro-Choice. This bill failed passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 10, 2005.

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FEDERAL BILLS

HR 356 - Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act - Chris Smith (R-NJ): The bill would require any abortionist to provide specified information to any woman seeking an abortion at 20 weeks or later, regarding the pain that would be inflicted on the baby, and to obtain a signed form accepting or rejecting administration of pain-relieving drugs to the baby. A national poll in November by Wirthlin Worldwide described this legislation and found 75% in support, including 51% strongly in favor. Only 18% opposed the legislation. On February 25, 2005 referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

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HR 552: Right to Life Act of 2005 - Duncan Hunter(R), John Shimkus (R), Jack Kingston (R), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Todd Tiahrt (R), Roger Wicker (R), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Sue Wilson Myrick (R), Thomas Tancredo (R), Ed Whitfield (R), John Doolittle (R), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), W. Todd Akin (R), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rick Renzi (R), Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Jim Ryun (R-KS), Steve King (R-IA), Thaddeus McCotter (R), Stevan Pearce (R), Robert Ney (R), JOHNSON (IL), Randy Neugebauer (R), Mark Souder (R), Phil Gingrey (R-KY), Walter Jones (R-NC), Zach Wamp (R), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Joseph Pitts (R), Virginia Foxx (R), Steve Chabot (R), Peter Hoekstra (R), John Hostettler (R), Mark Green (R-WI), Gary Miller (R-CA), and Ray LaHood (R): This bill is identical to a previous version, H.R. 3069, which states, “The terms 'human person' and 'human being' include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.” March 2, 2005 referred to the Houses Subcommittee on the Constitution.

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HR 748 - Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) - Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl): The CIANA requires any abortionist to notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor who is a resident of another state, unless the minor has already received authorization from a court in her home state, or unless the abortionist is already required to provide such parental notification by a current law in the state in which he practices. If the minor asserts that she is the victim of abuse, the abortionist would notify the appropriate state child abuse agency instead of a parent. Over 30 states have enacted parental notification or parental consent laws. (To view or download a fact sheet on these laws, click here.) However, these laws are often circumvented by minors traveling or being transported to other states that do not have parental notification requirements, often under pressure from older boyfriends or at the urging of abortion providers. In order to protect the welfare of minor girls and the rights of parents, Congress fulfills a duty to regulate this interstate activity. Passed in the House of Representatives on April 27, 2005 (270-157). July 11, 2005 read the second time and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar. The Senate's version of this bill S 403 passed in the Senate on July 25, 06.

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HR 1079: RU-486 - Roscoe Bartlett(R-MD): This bill would withdraw federal approval for marketing of the RU-486 abortion pill, unless the Comptroller General found that the approval was originally granted, during the Clinton Administration, in accordance with proper statutory procedures. March 14, 2005 referred to the House Subcommittee on Health.

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HR 1357: Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005 - Dave Weldon (rifle), Bart Stupak (ramie): On March 8, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a declaration urging all member nations to enact bans on all forms of human cloning. Pro-life members of Congress have been trying to do just that since 2001, with the backing of NRLC and many other groups. On March 17, 2005, the NRLC-backed Human Cloning Prohibition Act was reintroduced by Senators Sam Brownback (R-Ks.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) as S. 658, and by Congressmen Dave Weldon (R-Fl.) And Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) in the House as H.R. 1357. These bills would prohibit the creation of human embryos by cloning for any purpose. In 2001 and again in 2003, the House of Representatives passed the Weldon-Stupak bill. However, there was insufficient support to win approval of the Brownback-Landrieu companion bill in the Senate. Many of the pro-cloning senators have rallied behind counter-legislation sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca.), referred to by pro-life groups as “the clone and kill bill.” The Hatch-Feinstein bill would allow human embryos to be created by cloning, and penalize anyone who allows such an embryo to develop past the 14th day. During the 2003-04 Congress, neither the Brownback-Landrieu bill nor the Hatch-Feinstein bill had enough votes to overcome procedural obstacles, resulting in a protracted stalemate. This standoff has amounted to a tactical win for the pro-cloning forces, since in the absence of a federal law banning human cloning, it remains legal in most states. However, researchers in the U.S. apparently have not yet overcome technical problems that have prevented them from creating human embryos by cloning. Polls have shown lopsided opposition to the creation of human embryos for research. For example, an International Communications Research poll (August 13-17, 2004) asked, “Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to create a supply of human embryos to be destroyed in medical research?,” to which 80% of a national sample said “no.” April 4, 2005 referred to the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

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HR 2520 - Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act - Chris Smith (R-NJ): The bill creates a new federally funded stem cell program for the collection and inventory of umbilical cord blood. Stem cells derived from these sources have proven effective in treating over 58 diseases and conditions in humans. This does not require the deaths of other human beings to further science and the failure of embryonic stem cells to cure any patients. May 24, 2005 passed/agreed to in House (431-1). Signed by the President and became law on December 20, 2005.

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S 51 - Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act - Sam Brownback (R-KS): The bill would require any abortionist to provide specified information to any woman seeking an abortion at 20 weeks or later, regarding the pain that would be inflicted on the baby, and to obtain a signed form accepting or rejecting administration of pain-relieving drugs to the baby. A national poll in November by Wirthlin Worldwide described this legislation and found 75% in support, including 51% strongly in favor. Only 18% opposed the legislation. See related legislation HR 356 above. January 26, 2005 introductory remarks made on this measure in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S 403: Child Custody Protection Act - John Ensign (R-NV): This bill would make it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion if this deprives her parents of their right to be involved under state law. This bill dovetails with HR 748 above. Passed in the Senate on July 25, 2006, 65-34. Held at desk.

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S 511: RU-486 - Jim DeMint (R-SC): This bill would withdraw federal approval for marketing of the RU-486 abortion pill, unless the Comptroller General found that the approval was originally granted, during the Clinton Administration, in accordance with proper statutory procedures. This legislation is entered along with HR 1079 above. March 3, 2005, read twice in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S 539: Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act - Mel Martinez (R-FL), Tom Coburn (R-OK), James Inhofe (R-OK), Rick Santorum (R-PA), and Sam Brownback (R-KS): This bill did pass in both the United States House and Senate to try to help Terri Schiavo. It is the purpose of this Act (1) to facilitate balancing the acknowledged right of persons to refuse consent to medical treatment and unwanted bodily intrusions with the right to consent to treatment, food, and fluids so as to preserve their lives; (2) in circumstances in which there is a contested judicial proceeding because of dispute about the expressed previous wishes or best interests of a person presently incapable of making known a choice concerning treatment, food, and fluids the denial of which will result in death, to provide that the fundamental due process and equal protection rights of incapacitated persons are protected by ensuring the availability of collateral review through habeas corpus proceedings. (HR 1151 sister bill in the House of Representatives). March 8, 2005, read the second time and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar.

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S 658: Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005 - Sam Brownback (R-KS), Mary Landrieu (D-LA): This bill to prohibit human cloning is related to HR 1357 above. March 17, 2005, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S 2754: The Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act: This would require the National Institutes of Health to support research to try to find methods of creating pluripotent stem cells without creating or killing living human embryos.  These are cells that hopefully can be turned into any sort of body tissue. Passed in the Senate 100-0 and failed passage in the House 273-154.

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S 3504: The Fetus Farming Prohibition Act - R. Santorum (R-PA): This would make it a federal offense for a researcher to use tissue from a human embryo, fetus or baby who has been gestated in a woman’s womb or an animal’s womb for the purpose of providing tissue for research. Passed in Senate 100-0 and the House 425-0 and signed by the President (July 2006).

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Anti-Life - Anti-Family Agenda

CALIFORNIA STATE BILLS

AB 19 - Gender Neutral Marriage - Leno (D-San Francisco): Existing law provides that marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a man and a woman. Existing law further provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in this state. This bill would enact the "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act," which would instead provide that marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between 2 persons. On June 2, 2005 this bill failed passage in the Assembly. Important Note: See AB 849 below.

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AB 21 - Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys): This bill would require a pharmacist to dispense a prescription except in specified circumstances. The bill would allow a pharmacist to decline on ethical, moral, or religious grounds to dispense a drug pursuant to a lawful request only if he or she satisfies certain conditions. The bill would make a violation of its provisions unprofessional conduct, subject to disciplinary action by the board . Because the bill would specify an additional requirement under the Pharmacy Law, a violation of which would be a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
*This bill is supported by California Alliance for Consumer Protection; California Pharmacists Association (if amended); Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (in concept) .
*This bill is opposed by California Family Alliance, California Right to Life Committee, Inc., Capitol Resource Institute.
This bill failed passage in Committee on June 22, 2005.

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AB 606 - Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) Safe Schools: Discrimination and Harassment: This bill would require a school district to establish and publicize an antidiscrimination and antiharassment policy that prohibits discrimination and harassment based on specified characteristics, including, but not limited to, actual or perceived gender identification and sexual orientation. The bill would require a school district to take specified actions related to increasing awareness of, preventing, and ensuring appropriate responses to, incidences of discrimination and harassment based on those protected characteristics, including instructional and curricula materials. Teachers may not instruct against sexual orientation issues and schools that would allow this will lose and state funding resources. The sponsor of this bill is Equality California. This bill is opposed by the California Catholic Conference. This bill passed in the Assembly 45-32 and the Senate 23-16. Vetoed by the Governor on September 29.

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AB 651 - "California Compassionate Choice Act" - Assemblymembers Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) and Patty Berg (D-Eureka): (See AB 654 below for additional information). AB 651, formerly addressing MediCal chronic disease management is now California Assisted Suicide legislation. AB 651 would have had a positive impact on low-income patients with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. The bill passed the Assembly with bipartisan support. After passing the Assembly as a health care bill, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine added his assisted-suicide co-author Assemblywoman Patty Berg as a co-author to AB 651, which they then “gutted and amended,” i.e. substituted entirely new language. AB 651 is now the new bill to sanction doctor-assisted suicide in California and was re-referred to the Senate Rules Committee. On July 12 the authors withdrew this bill because they could not get more than 20 State Senators to support the bill. This bill is opposed by the California Catholic Conference. This bill failed to pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on June 27. See AB 654 below for more background.

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AB 654 - "California Compassionate Choice Act" - Assemblymembers Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys): This bill which is misnamed and is really a physician assisted suicide bill, would authorize an adult who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, as defined, to make a request for medication for the purpose of ending his or her life. The bill would establish procedures for making these requests and provides for immunity from civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for physicians participating in assisting in this suicide. The authors were unable to secure support in the full Assembly so at that last minute before all bills had to be decided they pulled this bill from the Assembly Floor to preclude it being voted on and failing passage. It was placed in the inactive file on June 2. Four days later the authors gutted AB 651 (see above) which had already passed through the Assembly as a Medi-Cal bill to provide medical services for the poor. They then inserted the complete text of AB 654 and it is now before the Senate as the assisted suicide bill AB 651 and, thus, bypassing the Assembly. On January 31, 2006, this bill died in the inactive file. Unfortunately the content of this bill remains in Assembly Bill 651 (see above).
*This bill is supported by Compassion & Choices (sponsor), American Civil Liberties Union, CA Alliance For Consumer Protection, CA National Organization for Women, Conference of Delegates of CA Bar Associations, Drug Policy Alliance Network, End-of-Life Choices.
* This bill is opposed by Alliance of Catholic Health Care, Assn. of Northern California Oncologists, California Assn. for Health Services at Home, California Catholic Conference, California Disability Alliance, California Family Alliance, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, California Hospital Association, California Nurses for Ethical Standards, California ProLife Council Inc., California Right to Life Committee Inc., Californians for Disability Rights Inc., Campaign for Children and Families, Capitol Resource Institute, Catholic Healthcare West, Crusade for Life, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Inc., FREED Center for Independent Living, International Life Services, Joni and Friends International Disability Center, Life Legal Defense Foundation, Life Priority Network, League of United Latin American Citizens ( LULAC), Medical Oncology Assn. of Southern California, National Right to Life Committee Inc., Physicians for Compassionate Care, Responsible Citizens Inc., Scholl Institute of Bioethics, Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative, St. Jude Medical Center, Systems Change Network, Multitude of petition signatures through the Scholl Institute of Bioethics.

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AB 849 - Gender Neutral Marriage - Mark Leno (D-San Francisco):This bill was originally an environmental bill regarding Fish and Game: Marine Research and authored by Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys). AB 19 above was defeated June 2, 2005. However, this bill as originally penned had passed as Fish and Game issue and was in the Senate. The authors allowed this bill to be "gutted" and the language of the failed AB 19 was inserted into this bill. This was the same procedure Berg and Levine used with their failing Physician Assisted Suicide bill, i.e., AB 654 above. This newly worded bill passed in the Senate 21-15 (see AB 19 above for wording). The new AB 849 was introduced to the Assembly on September 6 where it passed 41-35 with 4 not voting. Enrolled and submitted to the Governor who must act upon it by October 9, 2005. Supported by NARAL Pro-Choice and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. The bill was vetoed by the Governor on September 29, 2005.

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AB 1056 - Public school curriculum: tolerance and intergroup relations instruction - Judy Chu (D-Alhambra, El Monte):This bill would establish the Tolerance Education Pilot Program, to be administered by the State Department of Education, to promote instruction in public schools on tolerance, as defined, and intergroup relations as part of the instruction in the history/social science content standards, allocating $250,000 for instruction promoting acceptance of homosexual behaviors . Supported by Anti-Defamation League, Applied Research Center, Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality, Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, Asian Pacific Island Legal Outreach, Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, Chinese American Council of Sacramento, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Lambda Letters Project, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Council of La Raza, Our Family Coalition . Opposed by Calvary Chapel of El Cajon, Concerned Women of America, Office of the Secretary for Education, California Catholic Conference, Letters from Individuals The bill passed in the Assembly 47-27 and the Senate 22-14. Vetoed by the Governor on September 29.

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AB 2560 - Public School Health Center Expansion - Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles District 48):This bill seeks to establish, retain and expand “health centers” in public schools. These health centers will collect data on children and then compile a biennial report on the collected data. AB 2560 allows school-based health centers to provide diagnostic and treatment services. These centers can refer teenagers to abortion clinics without parental knowledge. California School Health Centers Association (sponsor), California School Nurses Organization, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, California Federation of Teachers, Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services, and others. Opposed by California Right to Life Committee, Inc., Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Concerned Women for America. The bill passed in the Assembly 48-32 and the Senate 23-14. Enrolled and to the Governor.

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AB 2583 - Dispensing Drugs (Shaming Pharmacists into Violating Moral/Religious Beliefs) - Joe Nation (D-Marin/Sonoma Counties): This bill requires pharmacists or their employers to place a sign at or near the entrance to the pharmacy stating that the pharmacist will not fill certain prescriptions including those related to abortion based on moral objections. This will create a conflict between pharmacists that have moral objections to abortion and their employers. This will inevitably force pharmacists to compromise their employment. This bill specifically targets people of faith and seeks to shame them into dispensing ethically-questionable drugs through public and employer pressure by requiring that they post a sign sayng the pharmacy has hired a pharmacist with moral objections. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX, California Medical Association, California Primary Care Association. Opposed by California Family Council, California Grocers Association, California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The bill passed in the Assembly 47-31 and the Senate 24-15. Enrolled, signed by the Governor, Chaptered into law effective January 1, 2007..

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AJR 3 - Rebecca Cohn (D-Saratoga to Campbell and parts of San Jose and Santa Clara) Reproductive rights: Roe v. Wade: This measure would memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to "...protect and uphold the intent and substance of the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, relating to reproductive rights," celebrating the abortion of 50 million babies in the last 31 years, and encourages "...all Americans to participate in the national celebration, 'The March for Women's Lives,' in recognition of that decision's historic importance in promoting women' s rights." This bill was chaptered into law on July 18, 2005.

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SB 644 - Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) Dispensing of prescriptions prescription drugs and devices: Existing law makes certain actions by a health care professional unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action by the licensing board regulating the health care professional .This bill would include within those provisions, a requirement that a health care licentiate dispense drugs and devices pursuant to a lawful prescription or order except in specified circumstances, including on ethical, moral, or religious grounds asserted by the licentiate . The bill would authorize the licentiate to decline to dispense the prescription or order on that basis only if the licentiate notified his or her employer of the objection and it can be reasonably accommodated . This bill is similar to AB 21 although less punitive to the one exercising the so-called "Conscience Clause." Supported by: Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (co-sponsor); NARAL Pro-Choice California (co-sponsor); American Association of University Women (co-sponsor); California Family Health Council (co-sponsor); American Civil Liberties Union ; California Commission on the Status of Women.
This bill is opposed by: California ProLife Council; California Catholic Conference; California Family Alliance.
This bill was chaptered into law on September 29, 2005.

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SB 1437 - Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) School Instruction: Prohibition of Discriminatory Content: The bill originally would have required school governing boards to include only instructional material that portray the cultural, racial, gender and sexual diversity of our society, and, instructional material for social sciences to include the contributions of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America. This language was stricken by the author on August 7, 2006 after the governor indicated he would veto this bill. Now the bill requires that no teacher may instruct against sexual orientation issues. The penalty would be the loss of any state funding resources. Also this bill also does not provide for parents to opt their children out of sexual orientation instruction. Supported by California Alliance for Arts Education; Gay-Straight Alliance Network; Lambda Letters Project; San Francisco AIDS Foundation; National Center for Lesbian Rights. Opposed by California Catholic Conference, Campaign for Children and Families; Concerned Women For America of California; Traditional Values Coalition. This bill passed in the Assembly 47-31 and the Senate 22-16. Vetoed by the Governor on September 6, 2006..

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SB 1441 - Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) Discrimination: state programs and activities: sexual orientation: Existing law prohibits discrimination on the basis of, among other things, race, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, color, or disability, against any person in any program or activity conducted, operated, or administered that is funded directly by the state, or that receives any financial assistance from the state. Existing law also requires, with respect to disability, that these programs and activities meet the protections and prohibitions contained in certain provisions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This bill would add sexual orientation to these provisions and define for these purposes "sex" and "sexual orientation." The bill would also expand the definition of discrimination under these provisions to include a perception that a person has any of these enumerated characteristics or that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of these characteristics. This bill is supported by Equality California (Sponsor); AIDS Project Los Angeles; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO; Americans for Civil Rights & Equality; American Civil Liberties Union; Attorney General Bill Lockyer; California Association for Nonprofits; California Faculty Association; California School Employees Association; California Teachers Association; Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast; Lambda Letters Project; Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF); Association of Social Workers, California Chapter; National Center for Lesbian Rights; San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Opposed by California Family Council; Capitol Resource Institute; California Catholic Conference. This bill passed in the Senate 23-13 and the Assembly 45-28. Enrolled, signed by the Governor and Chaptered into law.

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FEDERAL BILLS

HR 810 - Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 - Michael Castle (R-DE), Diane DeGette (D-CO):This bill would require federal funding of research using stem cells obtained by killing human embryos.  These are the well known embryonic stem cells.  These are obtained by cutting open a five-day-old living human embryo and extracting these cells from the inside of his or her tiny body.  This procedure kills this five-day-old human.  The pro-life movement and most traditional religious bodies have strongly opposed this.  Another major reason for opposing it is that to date there has not been a single human treatment using embryonic stem cells, whereas there are upwards of 70 major human problems that have been aided or cured by using adult stem cells or umbilical cord stem cells.  These more successful cells can be obtained ethically as they come from the body of the person, are cultured, and returned to the body of that same person.  In this process no one is killed. Passed in July 2006, the President vetoed on July 19, 2006 and veto override failed passage.

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S 20 -Prevention First Omnibus Bill - Charles Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), John Kerry (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Carl Levin (D-MI), Ted Kennedy (DMA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Tim Johnson (D-SD): This bill would increase funding for Title X sex ed programs, mandate coverage of birth control prescriptions, promote abortion-causing “emergency contraception,” and gut efforts that encourage teens to practice chastity. This legislation can be best described as an omnibus Culture of Death bill. It has the sponsors noted above, plus the backing of the pro-abortion activists at the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. January 24, 2005, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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S 471 -Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 - Arlen Specter (R-PA), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa): This bill is the same legislation as found in HR 810 above. February 28, 2005 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

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You can access bill text, committee analyses, and votes on these bills, and all others, on the Assembly or Senate Websites-- www.assembly.ca.gov or www.sen.ca.gov. Click on “Legislation,” and select the 2005-2006 Session, then insert the bill number.