ASSEMBLYMEMBER CATHERINE STEFANI, REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM ADVOCATES, AND STUDENTS ANNOUNCE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT RIGHT TO ACCESS ACT

SACRAMENTO, CA - Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco) today announced AB 2540, the Community College Student Right to Access Act, alongside reproductive justice organizations and student leaders. The bill will expand equitable access to medication abortion services for students attending community colleges across California.

AB 2540 builds on our state's commitment to reproductive freedom by requiring community colleges with existing student health centers to provide access to medication abortion services. While similar services already exist at University of California and California State University campuses, community college students currently face significant gaps in access to reproductive health care.

"Reproductive health care is essential health care. We can no longer allow access to this care to depend on where a student is enrolled," said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco). "With the Community College Student Right to Access Act, we are closing a critical gap and ensuring that community college students-one of the most diverse and economically vulnerable populations in our state-have the same access to care as their peers at four-year institutions. California has led the nation in protecting reproductive rights, and this bill is the next step in making those rights a reality for all."

This legislation would allow services to be provided directly through campus health centers, via telehealth, or through contracted providers. It also includes provisions to improve transparency and awareness by requiring colleges to publish information about available services.

"While Donald Trump and his allies continue their coordinated attacks on medication abortion from all directions, ignoring decades of science-backed efficacy, California is leading the way in the opposite direction: expanding access and trusting people to make their own health care decisions. AB 2540 is exactly what leadership looks like-meeting students where they are and ensuring they can access the full spectrum of reproductive health care. Thank you to Assemblymember Stefani and our champions in Sacramento who have always fought to ensure Californians can get the care they need," said Kristin Slevin, Senior Director of California Campaigns at Reproductive Freedom for All.

"AB 2540 would address disconnects between laws and reality by ensuring timely access to abortion care on community college campuses. Preparing community college health centers to provide medication abortion and improve methods of pregnancy prevention is life-saving under the current federal administration. Through policy advocacy, community-informed research and community engagement, CLRJ fights to address systemic injustices that have created disconnects between California laws protecting reproductive freedom and the on-the-ground realities limiting Latinas' power to exercise their rights," said California Latinas for Reproductive Justice.

"AB 2540 ensures that access to reproductive healthcare, including medication abortion, is not just legal-but actually reachable for community college stuendts," said, Claire Densmore, Legilative Affairs Director at Student Senate for California Community Colleges.

Student leaders and advocates emphasized that all students, regardless of the type of institution they attend, deserve timely and equitable access to reproductive health services.

AB 2540 also directs the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to assess the capacity of student health centers to provide reproductive health services and report its findings to the Legislature.

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