STATE : Judge Orders Restoration of Family Planning Clinic Funds
A judge today ordered the state to restore full funding to local family planning clinics within 10 days, saying Gov. George Deukmejian’s $24-million cut in the $36-million program apparently violated state law.
The law requires the state to provide family planning services to all low-income women who want them, a duty that cannot be avoided by cutting the budget, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge William Fredman said, according to lawyers in the case.
He issued a preliminary injunction ordering full funding of family planning programs statewide but stayed his order for 10 days to give the Deukmejian Administration time to appeal.
Deputy Atty. Gen. Conrad Bagui, who represented the state Department of Health Services, said he expects to appeal to the 2nd District Court of Appeal and ask for an extension of the stay so that the budget cut will remain in effect.
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