Local Policy Opportunities to Support Reproductive Healthcare Post-Roe
July 8, 2022 10:27 AM Subscribe
I am trying to learn what local cities and counties are doing in response to the Dobbs decision. I would like to have a landscape of what mayors and electeds are pursuing or considering to help women. I am interested in policy options, as well as how cities and counties are working with community partners, and private donors. I am in Ohio. I am interested in what we can create and lift up where I live.
Thank you!
How about at the state level? Massachusetts House Bill H.4954 was passed. You can see a couple of similar bills in the sidebar on that page. From one of the sponsors:
"Here are some of the provisions of what the House passed in H.4954:
- Massachusetts law enforcement agents cannot assist federal or out of state law enforcement agents in the investigation of legal protected health care activities.
- Massachusetts courts would prohibit Massachusetts residents from giving testimony or providing documents to other state courts in cases concerning legally protected health care activity.
- Victims of out-of-state legal action (filed out of state) aimed at deterring individuals from engaging in legally protected health care activities in Massachusetts can take civic action within three years, and receive full damages if the court rules in their favor.
- Interstate extradition is limited to only apply in situations where the crime being claimed by the demanding authority (i.e. another state) is also punishable under Massachusetts law.
- Makes it so insurance companies cannot subject abortion care or services in Massachusetts to any deductible, coinsurance, copayments, or any other cost-sharing requirement, and cannot impose undue restrictions or delays in coverage including coverage for spouses and dependents.
- A statewide standing order for pharmacies to dispense emergency contraceptives to allow anyone with MassHealth or private insurance to access free emergency contraceptives at a pharmacy.
- Licensing boards would not be able to reject licenses for physicians, physicians assistants, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, or social workers who have faced criminal, civil, or professional discipline out of state for behavior that would have been legal in the state of Massachusetts."
posted by cocoagirl at 1:50 PM on July 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Here are some of the provisions of what the House passed in H.4954:
- Massachusetts law enforcement agents cannot assist federal or out of state law enforcement agents in the investigation of legal protected health care activities.
- Massachusetts courts would prohibit Massachusetts residents from giving testimony or providing documents to other state courts in cases concerning legally protected health care activity.
- Victims of out-of-state legal action (filed out of state) aimed at deterring individuals from engaging in legally protected health care activities in Massachusetts can take civic action within three years, and receive full damages if the court rules in their favor.
- Interstate extradition is limited to only apply in situations where the crime being claimed by the demanding authority (i.e. another state) is also punishable under Massachusetts law.
- Makes it so insurance companies cannot subject abortion care or services in Massachusetts to any deductible, coinsurance, copayments, or any other cost-sharing requirement, and cannot impose undue restrictions or delays in coverage including coverage for spouses and dependents.
- A statewide standing order for pharmacies to dispense emergency contraceptives to allow anyone with MassHealth or private insurance to access free emergency contraceptives at a pharmacy.
- Licensing boards would not be able to reject licenses for physicians, physicians assistants, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, or social workers who have faced criminal, civil, or professional discipline out of state for behavior that would have been legal in the state of Massachusetts."
posted by cocoagirl at 1:50 PM on July 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Any policy wonks out here? We are limited at the local level bc of the state- thank you though! Trying to see what we can do at the local level.
posted by Boyd at 2:43 PM on July 8, 2022
posted by Boyd at 2:43 PM on July 8, 2022
Here's an article on what mayors across the country are doing in response. The City of Ithaca just passed a measure that prohibits the city from spending money or resources on certain anti-abortion enforcement or information sharing activities. Austin is considering similar measures. Cincinnati added abortion coverage to employee health plans. Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office said they won't prosecute abortion.
Think about who is charged with enforcing bans in your area or prosecuting those charged and what powers your locality may have over how they perform and prioritize their duties. Do what you can to Expose Fake Clinics in your area (your local jurisdiction may also have some kind of regulatory power over these clinics, the buildings, or the land).
posted by ohneat at 3:24 PM on July 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
Think about who is charged with enforcing bans in your area or prosecuting those charged and what powers your locality may have over how they perform and prioritize their duties. Do what you can to Expose Fake Clinics in your area (your local jurisdiction may also have some kind of regulatory power over these clinics, the buildings, or the land).
posted by ohneat at 3:24 PM on July 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
Dayton has also passed an informal resolution saying they won't prioritize prosecution of abortion.
Ohio organizations you might want to plug into are Ohio Women's Alliance (this event has passed, but you can keep an eye out for others; it includes voter education focused on the Ohio Supreme Court), Pro-Choice Ohio (in particular, this upcoming training looks like a great place to learn from people who have been doing this work on the ground in Ohio), and Women Have Options Ohio.
The not-quite-local policy options I would look into would be policies in neighboring states. Here's an article on projected increases in travel distance (which your local abortion funds can help cover, but will still create enormous barriers for people). For instance, the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election this November is still polling fairly close and could have a huge impact on Ohioan's access to abortion in addition to Pennsylvanians.
Your question focuses on what local governments are doing, but if you're looking for what you can create and lift up where you live, you may want to think more in terms of organizing and mobilizing and building power for change. Plugging into grassroots groups that are doing this work will give you insight into the current policy landscape and options and connect you with mutual aid and other ways of supporting people directly. The recent victories for reproductive justice in Ireland and Mexico might be worth looking at!
posted by earth by april at 4:05 PM on July 8, 2022
Ohio organizations you might want to plug into are Ohio Women's Alliance (this event has passed, but you can keep an eye out for others; it includes voter education focused on the Ohio Supreme Court), Pro-Choice Ohio (in particular, this upcoming training looks like a great place to learn from people who have been doing this work on the ground in Ohio), and Women Have Options Ohio.
The not-quite-local policy options I would look into would be policies in neighboring states. Here's an article on projected increases in travel distance (which your local abortion funds can help cover, but will still create enormous barriers for people). For instance, the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election this November is still polling fairly close and could have a huge impact on Ohioan's access to abortion in addition to Pennsylvanians.
Your question focuses on what local governments are doing, but if you're looking for what you can create and lift up where you live, you may want to think more in terms of organizing and mobilizing and building power for change. Plugging into grassroots groups that are doing this work will give you insight into the current policy landscape and options and connect you with mutual aid and other ways of supporting people directly. The recent victories for reproductive justice in Ireland and Mexico might be worth looking at!
posted by earth by april at 4:05 PM on July 8, 2022
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Bolts is an indie publication that covers state and local politics and elections. They have a great article on what each state constitution says about abortion. For Ohio, they write: "The Ohio Supreme Court has not ruled on whether the state constitution recognizes a right to an abortion, but one of the state appellate courts rejected that argument in a 1993 case. Organizations that support abortion access filed a lawsuit after the Dobbs decision, asking state courts to protect such a right under the Ohio constitution. The state supreme court has a narrow Republican majority that is on the line in the 2022 midterms." (emphasis mine)
posted by ohneat at 12:18 PM on July 8, 2022 [1 favorite]