Gov. Brown Signs Bill To End Forced Sterilization For Female Inmates

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will prohibit California prisons from forcing women to be sterilized for birth control.

The Democratic governor announced Thursday that he signed SB1135 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, a Santa Barbara Democrat. It takes effect Jan. 1.

The legislation makes forced sterilization illegal except in cases where the patient's life is in danger or it is needed to treat a medical condition. It also requires a second physician to consult with a patient about the effects of the procedure.

Jackson introduced the legislation after the Center for Investigative Reporting found that female inmates at two California prisons underwent forced sterilizations as recently as 2010.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)