File #: 2022-2004    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Action
File created: 7/27/2022 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 12/20/2022 Final action:
Title: Commission District(s): All Commission Districts A Resolution to Protect Abortion Access and Protect Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice for DeKalb County Citizens
Attachments: 1. Substitute 2022 10.25 Item 2022-2004, 2. Resolution-DECLARATION OF FUNDAMENTAL REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOMS
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
12/20/20221 Board of Commissioners approvedPass Action details Meeting details Video Video
12/6/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for approval upon receipt of additional informationPass Action details Meeting details Not available
11/17/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for deferralPass Action details Meeting details Not available
11/15/20221 Board of Commissioners deferredPass Action details Meeting details Video Video
10/25/20221 Board of Commissioners    Not available Meeting details Video Video
10/18/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for deferralPass Action details Meeting details Not available
9/27/20221 Board of Commissioners deferred for 30 daysPass Action details Meeting details Video Video
9/20/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for deferralPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/23/20221 Board of Commissioners deferred for 30 daysPass Action details Meeting details Video Video
8/16/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for deferralPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/9/20221 Board of Commissioners deferred to the next meetingPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/2/20221 ERPS-Employee Relations & Public Safety Committee recommended for deferralPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/2/20221 Committee of the Whole Accepted to the BOC agenda and assigned  Action details Meeting details Not available

Substitute

Public Hearing:  YES      NO                                                   Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6                                     

 

SUBJECT:

Title

Commission District(s): All Commission Districts

A Resolution to Protect Abortion Access and Protect Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice for DeKalb County Citizens

Body

 

Information Contact: Commissioner Edward “Ted” Terry

Phone Number: 404-371-4909

 

PURPOSE:

This proposed Resolution affirms the DeKalb Governing Authority’s commitment to protect the rights to access abortion care and support efforts to mitigate the cascading effects of not just people who want or need abortion care, but people who need miscarriage care, other medications that may incidentally impact pregnancy and the disastrous effects that can deprive millions of women, especially of color, low-income, and underserved communities, who statistically are disproportionately affected and more often criminalized.

 

NEED/IMPACT:

Almost half a century ago, the Roe v. Wade ruling was the basis for establishing a constitutional right to abortion. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade legislation prompts questions about the implications for civil rights, American democracy and political polarization, and health policy. Roe v. Wade opened the door to safer, legal alternatives, which led to fewer people developing complications or dying from illegal abortions. Roe v. Wade also helped drive down complication and death rates from legal abortions by enabling more abortion research and better training. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling “makes clear no right to abortion exists under the Constitution”, inadvertently permitting Georgia Law to prohibit abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected.

 

The attached Resolution protects abortion access in Dekalb County and joins neighboring City of Atlanta and South Fulton who recently passed Resolutions protecting patients and providers from the criminalization of accessing abortion care by making abortion law violations the lowest possible priority. The DeKalb County District Attorney, Sherry Boston, has also advised that at this moment she will not seek prosecutions against women or medical providers seeking to assist in their reproductive healthcare decisions and has asked that the DeKalb County law enforcement community stand with her in this decision to not criminalize abortion and support the effort to continue to maintain public trust and public safety for all Dekalb citizens.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

No known financial impact at this time.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommended Action

Adopt the attached Resolution confirming our solidarity to support the advancement and protect reproductive health, rights, and justice in DeKalb County and the State of Georgia.