State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Support of a California Constitutional Amendment Protecting the Right to Abortion

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced his support of Senate Constitutional Amendment 10, which would protect the right to abortion and contraception in California. The constitutional amendment was introduced earlier this month by the leaders of both houses of the State Legislature, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), and preempts the impending federal erosion of women’s rights protected by Roe v. Wade for nearly 50 years.

“At a time where we see constitutional rights being undermined at a federal level, and with the fall of Roe v. Wade now imminent, we, as Californians, must secure these rights for our state, leading the way and setting an example for the nation,” Thurmond said. “As a state legislator, a social worker, and now State Superintendent, I have always supported measures that expand access to reproductive health care services. In 2015, I supported Assembly Bill 775, which required pregnancy centers to inform and educate clients about state pregnancy services available to them. I thank Senate President pro Tempore Atkins and Assembly Speaker Rendon for their leadership and for helping protect access to reproductive health care services in our state.”

SCA 10 is also supported by Governor Gavin Newsom and is cosponsored by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and NARAL Pro-Choice California. SCA 10 will need to be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the California Senate and the California Assembly by June 30. From there, it would go before California voters in November 2022, where it would need to be approved by a simple majority.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100