California expands access to birth control, abortion

News organizations covered Gov. Jerry Brown's Saturday visit to a Planned Parenthood center, where he signed several bills allowing nurses to dispense birth control and perform some abortions.

Los Angeles Times: Gov. Brown Signs Legislation Easing Birth-Control Access
In a victory for birth-control advocates, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Saturday that allows registered nurses to give out hormonal contraceptives to women under a standardized procedure. The law "also allows RNs to dispense drugs and devices upon an order by a certified nurse-midwife, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant while functioning within specified clinic settings," according to a news release from Brown's office (Bloomekatz, 9/22).

The Associated Press/KCBS: Brown Signs Bill Allowing Nurses To Prescribe Birth Control
During debate last month in Sacramento, Democratic Sen. Kevin De Leon said the bill would reduce delays for women because the state is facing a physician shortage. Republican Sen. Joel Anderson opposed it, saying nurses should have trained to become physicians if they wanted to dispense medications (9/22).

KPCC: Governor Signs Bill Allowing Women To Obtain Birth Control Without Seeing A Doctor
The bill, which takes effect Jan. 1, would also require women to see a doctor for an exam after at least three years ... [state Assemblywoman Holly] Mitchell said the bill allows women in rural areas with a shortage of doctors, nurse practitioners or physicians assistants -; all of whom can provide contraceptives -; the ability to obtain birth control from more prevalent registered nurses (Abdollah, 9/22). 

Meanwhile --

Sacramento Bee: Jerry Brown Signs Abortion, Mammogram Bills
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation extending an ongoing pilot program allowing nurse practitioners and other clinicians to perform non-surgical abortions, his office announced this afternoon. ... The bill extends until Jan. 1, 2014 a pilot program to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of allowing nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants to provide aspiration abortions (Siders, 9/22).