Sexual and reproductive health care.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's comprehensive reproductive healthcare legislation removes unconstitutional abortion restrictions while expanding access to medication abortion through updated regulations and provider protections. The bill eliminates outdated criminal penalties, modifies prescription labeling requirements, and prohibits disciplinary actions against healthcare providers who prescribe or dispense mifepristone in accordance with California law.

The legislation requires health plans to cover mifepristone even when prescribed for non-FDA approved uses, provided the drug meets World Health Organization standards or has prior state approval. It also updates Medi-Cal enrollment procedures for telehealth reproductive services by exempting providers from certain physical location requirements and allowing the use of cellular phones as primary business contacts.

For incarcerated individuals, the bill removes conditions that could delay or restrict abortion access in state prisons, county jails, and youth facilities. Healthcare facilities must prominently display information about reproductive rights and ensure procedures are available without unnecessary barriers.

The measure includes specific protections for pharmacists, allowing them to dispense mifepristone without certain labeling information while maintaining confidential dispensing logs that cannot be accessed by law enforcement without a subpoena. These records cannot be shared with entities from other states, preserving patient privacy across jurisdictions.

To facilitate implementation, the Department of Public Health receives authority to modify regulations regarding mifepristone labeling and coverage requirements. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage as an urgency statute to ensure continued access to medication abortion services.