California policymakers have introduced new language to a proposed bill that pro-life advocates warn would decriminalize infanticide. 

The proposed amendment to AB 2223’s Health and Safety Code portion would read: “A person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty, or otherwise deprived of their rights, based on their actions or omissions with respect to their pregnancy or actual, potential, or alleged pregnancy outcome, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death.” 

While the bill doesn’t define the term perinatal, most medical dictionaries classify perinatal death as the demise of a baby from the 20th week of gestation to the 28th day of newborn life. With that in mind, the proposed changes to AB 2223 would effectively make it legal to kill a baby up to a month after birth. 

“AB 2223 literally decriminalizes infanticide,” explained Right to Life League.

The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), additionally protects anyone who “aids or assists a pregnant person in exercising” what legislators consider the right to abortion or infanticide. It also allows a woman to sue any police department or legal authority that arrests or charges her for hurting or killing her child, under provisions of the bill.

“For years, pro-life advocates have argued there is no moral difference between ending a child’s life days before birth or days after birth. California’s pro-abortion legislators now seemingly agree,” said Jonathan Keller, president of California Family Council. “A political culture that justifies killing millions of children in the womb is now declaring open season on unwanted newborns. Every Californian must oppose this heinous bill.”

The bill was sent to California’s Assembly Judiciary Committee on March 21, but a hearing date has not yet been announced.