SACRAMENTO – With reproductive rights and funding being threatened by the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled Congress, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced a bill to create a specialized reproductive freedom license plate, with proceeds benefiting reproductive health care services in California.
Senate Bill 309 would require that the Department of Motor Vehicles issue a specialized license plate with a “California Trusts Women” theme once 7,500 Californians order them.
The initial cost of the optional license plate would be $50 and $40 per year thereafter to renew the plates. Proceeds from the plate will benefit the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (FPACT) program, which provides family planning services to 1.8 million Californians every year. Currently, the FPACT program is overwhelmingly supported by federal funding, with the federal government picking up 90 percent of the tab. FPACT funding is also a vital source of funding for Planned Parenthood reproductive health care services.
“The Trump Administration and Republican Congress are threatening to cut off critical federal funding to reproductive health care services, and we will not stand idly by and let this happen,” said Jackson. “California has a long history of leadership on reproductive rights. This license plate represents one way that we can demonstrate that we will stay true to our values and the right of every woman to safe, affordable and quality reproductive health care. Californians turned out in large numbers for the Women’s March. Let’s show our force and support for women’s rights this way, too.”
“In California, we support everyone’s right to reproductive health care. We won’t sit back when that right is threatened by a federal government that is determined to attack abortion providers and jeopardize healthcare for millions. The ‘California Trusts Women’ license plate is one way everyone can step up to make a difference and defend our pro-choice values,” said Amy Everitt, state director of NARAL Pro-Choice California, which is sponsoring the measure.
California-based artists are currently being identified to create different license plate options, and the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the final choice of license plate designs.
A hearing date for SB 309 has not yet been set.
Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.