Signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes nurses, nurse-midwives, and physicians' assistants to perform abortions by aspiration techniques.

Highlights:

• Requires an individual with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse-midwife to complete training recognized by the Board of Registered Nursing in order to perform an abortion by aspiration (Sec. 2). 

• Requires an individual with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse-midwife in order to perform an abortion to adhere to aspiration procedures that specify certain information including, but not limited to, the following information (Sec. 2): 
• The extent of supervision by a physician and surgeon with relevant training and expertise;
• Procedures for transferring patients to the care of the physician and surgeon or hospital; and
• Procedures for obtaining assistance and consultation from a physician and surgeon.

• Requires a physician assistant to complete training either through training programs approved by the board, or by training to perform medical services which expands his or her current areas of competency in order to receive authority from his or her supervising physician and surgeon to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques (Sec. 3).

• Requires a physician assistant to comply with certain protocols developed to receive authority from his or her supervising physician and surgeon to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques, including, but not limited to, the following protocols (Sec. 3):
• The extent of supervision by a physician and surgeon relevant training and expertise;
• Procedures for transferring patients to the care of the physician and surgeon or hospital; and
• Procedures for obtaining assistance and consultation from a physician or surgeon. 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes nurses, nurse-midwives, and physicians' assistants to perform abortions by aspiration techniques.

Highlights:

• Requires an individual with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse-midwife to complete training recognized by the Board of Registered Nursing in order to perform an abortion by aspiration (Sec. 2). 

• Requires an individual with a license or certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner or a certified nurse-midwife in order to perform an abortion to adhere to aspiration procedures that specify certain information including, but not limited to, the following information (Sec. 2): 
• The extent of supervision by a physician and surgeon with relevant training and expertise;
• Procedures for transferring patients to the care of the physician and surgeon or hospital; and
• Procedures for obtaining assistance and consultation from a physician and surgeon.

• Requires a physician assistant to complete training either through training programs approved by the board, or by training to perform medical services which expands his or her current areas of competency in order to receive authority from his or her supervising physician and surgeon to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques (Sec. 3).

• Requires a physician assistant to comply with certain protocols developed to receive authority from his or her supervising physician and surgeon to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques, including, but not limited to, the following protocols (Sec. 3):
• The extent of supervision by a physician and surgeon relevant training and expertise;
• Procedures for transferring patients to the care of the physician and surgeon or hospital; and
• Procedures for obtaining assistance and consultation from a physician or surgeon. 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes nurses, nurse-midwives, and physicians' assistants to perform abortions by aspiration techniques.

Highlights:

• Authorizes nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants, all who have completed training and achieved clinical competency, to perform abortions by aspiration techniques (Secs. 2 & 3).

• Specifies that it is “unprofessional conduct” for a nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife to perform an abortion by aspiration techniques without prior completion of training and validation of clinical competency (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text