Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced a bill to create a specialized reproductive freedom license plate, with proceeds benefiting reproductive health care services in California.

Senate Bill 309 would require that the Department of Motor Vehicles issue a specialized license plate with a “California Trusts Women” theme once 7,500 Californians order them.

The initial cost of the optional license plate would be $50 and $40 per year thereafter to renew the plates. Proceeds from the plate will benefit the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (FPACT) program, which provides family planning services to 1.8 million Californians every year. Currently, the FPACT program is overwhelmingly supported by federal funding, with the federal government picking up 90 percent of the tab. FPACT funding is also a vital source of funding for Planned Parenthood reproductive health care services.

“In California, we support everyone’s right to reproductive health care. We won’t sit back when that right is threatened by a federal government that is determined to attack abortion providers and jeopardize health care for millions. The ‘California Trusts Women’ license plate is one way everyone can step up to make a difference and defend our pro-choice values,” said Amy Everitt, state director of NARAL Pro-Choice California, which is sponsoring the measure.

California-based artists are currently being identified to create different license plate options, and the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the final choice of license plate designs.

Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.

Full story at Senate District 9 website.