(10-02) 19:24 PDT SACRAMENTO (AP) --
Legislation on women's health, sex education and the environment were signed into law Thursday by Gov. Gray Davis.
One bill would require women patients facing an operation to give consent before undergoing anesthesia for doctors or medical students to perform pelvic exams or other procedures. It is the first law of its kind in the nation and passed the Legislature without opposition.
"We hope to take this bill to other states. California is really leading the way," said the bill's author, Assemblywoman Sally Leiber, D-Mountain View.
Existing laws allowing schools to provide sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention training will be clarified under another bill. Schools will have to notify parents at the beginning of the year and offer them the opportunity to excuse their children from the class.
Women's advocacy groups commended Davis for signing those bills and celebrated two other measures they say will give women better access to emergency contraceptive pills by making it easier for pharmacists to dispense them and capping consultation fees pharmacies charge.
"This is a truly historic day," said Kathy Kneer, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. She said the bills exemplified Davis' resolve to make California the most pro-woman state in the nation.
Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox opposed the emergency contraceptive bills because the Legislature should be talking more about abstinence and responsibility, said his spokesman Peter DeMarco.
"Mr. Cox believes that making morning-after pills widely available is going to continue steering our culture toward more unprotected sex," DeMarco said.
The California Pharmacists Association, while supporting legislation making it easier to get the so-called morning-after pill, opposed the cap on consultation fees and warned it could create a barrier for women trying to get the pills.
"Pharmacists will not want to take up a valuable portion of their time and not be compensated. If they're losing money on the transaction, then why do it?" said spokesman Bill Bradley.
Davis signed several bills in Santa Monica, including one that requires state environmental officials to develop a curriculum for schools that want to teach children about the environment.
Another law will prohibit schools from being built within 500 feet of a freeway unless it can be proven that air quality there won't pose any health risks. School districts with no other options would be exempt.
Environmental groups applauded a law requiring manufacturers to label the efficiency of tires sold in California, saying it could help make cars more fuel efficient.
Other approved legislation seeks to prohibit state agencies from doing business with American corporations that have relocated offshore in name only. The state would be able to contract with an offshore corporation that agrees to abide by California laws and pay California taxes.
