As Republicans in Congress move to defund Planned Parenthood, a California state senator is pushing a bill to require student health centers on public university and community college campuses to provide non-surgical abortion services.

Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino, is expected Friday to introduce Senate Bill 320, which would specifically require student health centers that operate with state funding to provide students with access to medication to abort a pregnancy. The bill does not address surgical abortion procedures.

Women can typically receive the medication, a two-pill dosage of mifepristone and misoprostol, from a doctor up to 10 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual cycle. The effect is similar to an early miscarriage, according to Planned Parenthood.

“I think that it’s incredibly important because women of all ages, especially young women, need to make sure they have control over their future – that they have a choice of when they want to incorporate a family into their lives,” Leyva said.

Leyva said the GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act and reduce federal funding for reproductive care heightens the need for additional services on college campuses.

Leyva said she expects some religious groups and pro-life conservative organizations to oppose her bill. The California Catholic Conference, which represents all 12 dioceses in the state, said it needed more time to review the bill before commenting.

Full story at Sacramento Bee.