Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan Introduces Bill to Restrict Misleading Advertising by Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Sacramento CA – Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) has introduced a bill restricting misleading advertising by fake clinics falsely advertising comprehensive pregnancy options – including abortion services. The bill aims to address predatory practices of anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers.” These groups masquerade as health care centers to lure in pregnant people seeking care and abortion services, only to then mislead and pressure the patients about their pregnancy options.

"California cannot let predatory crisis pregnancy centers continue to lie to pregnant people about abortion care," said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “With the increase in abortion seekers coming from other states, it is even more critical to end this dangerous deception.”

AB 315 will clarify that those marketing themselves as providing reproductive care cannot mislead prospective patients about whether or not they provide abortion services.

Crisis pregnancy centers take on the appearance of health care centers and medical clinics but do not offer the same range of services or meet the same standards and practices, including not following HIPAA or what kind of licensed staff they have on site. They use extensive, strategically placed advertising targeting abortion-seekers to lure them in. Many centers offer ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to appear legitimate. Once inside, women who are there for abortion care receive an onslaught of misinformation about abortion risks and sexual health. The results of these tests can be misrepresented and used to coerce abortion-seekers into continuing their pregnancy.

California is a leader in reproductive care, but crisis pregnancy centers limit reproductive freedom by lying about their services. With the number of abortion seekers predicted to continue to increase as other states ban access to care, California must protect them from coercion and harassment.   

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