College Student Right to Access Act
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is proud to support reproductive freedom policies and programs in California which continues to lead the nation in protecting every individual’s right to access comprehensive reproductive care.
California Public University students seeking medication abortion can find the contact information for their student health centers, and the simple steps to follow to access this right, at abortion.ca.gov/support/public-university-students/
Overview
The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is dedicated to ensuring reproductive freedom and equitable access to care for all of the women of California. The College Student Right to Access Act was authored by then CCSWG Commissioner, Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino), and requires student health centers on University of California and California State University campuses to offer abortion by medication techniques on site by January of 2023.
This legislation increases access to reproductive health care at UC and CSU campuses and is designed to reduce barriers for the hundreds of California public university students who are forced to go off-campus to seek care every month, often missing class and delaying their access to these vital health care services. Student health centers at public universities already offer gynecological exams, birth control, pregnancy counseling and other healthcare. This is an extension of health services already available to students designed to increase equity of access.
Our Role
The College Student Right to Access Act requires the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to administer a Reproductive Health Fund, which provides private funding for these services. The Commission administers a direct allocation of funds to the UC and CSU Systems. The Commission’s role is not that of a service provider – our mandate is to provide funds to both the UC and CSU systems to become prepared to offer safe and legal abortion by medication. The College Student Right to Access Act outlines how the funds are to be allocated and spent.
Champions of Support
This critical program could not have happened without the advocacy efforts and deep investment in reproductive justice by key members of the legislature, the Legislative Women’s Caucus, the Office of the Governor, and the following organizations:
- California Women’s Foundation
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
- Essential Access Health
- UCSF Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health
- URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
- GenBioPro
- Danco Laboratories
Thank you for your dedication to women’s reproductive healthcare and expanding access to the women of California.
Annual Program Reports
This report is required pursuant to Senate Bill 24 (Chapter 740, Statues of 2019), which is an act to add Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 99250) to Part 65 of Division 14 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to public health, and making an appropriation requirement. Senate Bill 24 (SB 24) requires, on and after January 1, 2023, each student health care services clinic on a California State University or University of California campus to offer abortion by medication techniques, as specified. The bill requires the Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to administer the College Student Health Center Sexual and Reproductive Health Preparation Fund, which the bill establishes. The bill continuously appropriates the monies in that fund to the Commission for allocations to each public university student health care services clinic for specified activities in preparation for providing abortion by medication techniques, thereby making an appropriation.
Program Contacts
Media inquiries should be directed to Darcy Totten, Director of External Affairs, by email at Darcy.Totten@women.ca.gov.