College students could end up paying for their classmates' abortions under new California bill

College kids might be forced to pay for their fellow classmates' abortions under a new California bill.

As highlighted by The College Fix, the bill, if passed, would mandate that all public universities in California provide abortion pills to students who "need" them.

What are the details?

The bill, SB 24, would force public colleges to have RU-486 on hand, a drug to terminate first trimester abortions. The program would be funded by student fees, effectively forcing fellow students to pay for their classmates' abortions.

The California Senate Education Committee met in Sacramento, California, on Wednesday for a hearing on the proposed bill. The committee invited the public to either voice their support or testify against the proposed bill.

Students for Life of America was one group that attended the hearing.

Kristan Hawkins, student president of the organization, testified in front of the committee in an effort to help strike down the bill. To support her stance, Hawkins cited an April FDA report finding that in the last 20 years, 24 women have died as a result of RU-486.

"Are California's schools prepared to handle the repercussions of students experiencing possibly life-ending bleeding and infections, caused by the abortion pills the school is providing?" Hawkins asked.

She added that it isn't fair that students be forced to pay for their classmates' abortions, since the program would be funded by student fees.

"Given that the both UC and CSU health programs are funded through student fees, it is not just possible but likely students will ultimately be paying for their classmates' abortions. Further, no provision has been made in the proposal to protect the conscience rights of students or health center personnel, who don't want to fund or support toilet seat abortions, ending human life on college and university campuses," she said.

Hawkins told The College Fix that her intended purpose of testifying at the hearing was to spread news of the bill as a warning to other states that might be considering the same type of legislation.

What's next?

"[California] Gov. [Gavin] Newsom has already said he'll sign it into law, and they've already said they want to use California as a prototype for other states," Hawkins said. "What happens here will transfer to other states."

Democrats currently hold a large majority in the California state Senate and House. If the bill passes through the California Senate Education Committee, it will head to the the Senate Appropriations Committee for a second vote. If passed, it would go to the California State Assembly, and then on to the governor's desk.