California teacher pregnancy leave bill could create paid leave for abortions

California lawmakers may be on the verge of creating a new form of taxpayer-funded paid leave that goes beyond traditional pregnancy and maternity benefits to include paid leave for elective abortions. As part of Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget, California teachers could soon receive up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave. Supporters say the proposal would finally give teachers benefits similar to those available to many other workers. But language in the bill also provides paid leave for "termination of pregnancy," raising questions about whether California could become the first state to provide taxpayer-funded paid leave for elective abortions. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry authored the proposal in Assembly Bill 65 . As CBS California previously reported, the proposal comes after years of debate over teacher paid leave . Public school teachers, who operate under collective bargaining agreements, generally cannot participate in California's State Disability Insurance program, meaning they cannot collect the same pregnancy disability benefits available to many private-sector workers. Now, after years of vetoes and failed legislation, Newsom is backing state-funded pregnancy leave for teachers. But the language of the bill extends beyond pregnancy and miscarriage. CBS California Investigates asked Aguiar-Curry during a recent interview if it was the intent of Democratic leadership to provide up to 14 weeks of paid leave for elective abortion. …