Bill aims to safeguard abortion by expanding access on Colorado college campuses

Colorado House Bill 1335 would expand access to abortion medication on college campuses in the state. The bill was proposed by New Era Colorado and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and is making its way through legislation as the session comes to a close this Wednesday, May 13.

KGNU’s Lily Sharp spoke with journalist Sean Beedle of the Colorado Times Recorder and District 17 State Senator Katie Wallace about the bill.

The bill’s goal is to make medication abortion available at health centers on college campuses. It would require an institution of higher education that operates a student health center to provide on-site abortion medication services through the student health center.

An institution is not required to provide access to or stock abortion medication if doing so would conflict with the institution’s sincerely held religious beliefs or practices.

The abortion medication included in the bill consists of two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken over the course of one to two days. It is widely considered safe and effective by major medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health Organization.

The passage of this bill would expand reproductive care for students and minority groups by providing access on college campuses to enrolled students from any state or country.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.