HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-22 Correspondence - Local Policy Assessment Tool - Why Cities and counties matter in the fight to protect abortion rights. LOCAL POLICY
ASSESSMENTTOOL
Why cities and counties matter
in the fight to protect a
abortion rights
This local policy assessment tool provides you with a framework to
examine local city and county policies to identify opportunities for
improving local policies to protect abortion access.
Cities and counties, referred to as localities, can act to protect
abortion access because many times local, specific factors affect
whether abortions are safe and accessible. The following are some
examples of what can occur.
Local officials can prioritize reproductive justice and implement the
policies to support it. Citizens can be the ones to require it.
Localities can be an essential driving factor for increasing
reproductive health and abortion access, even in states that have
banned abortion. For states that are considered pro-choice or where
abortion is accessible, local policies provide an opportunity to
protect and expand abortion access for all, even those living in areas
that have banned abortion.
The local policy assessment tool can be used to determine what
policies localities have. The assessment tool can be continually
utilized to make future plans for progress. Efforts can be focused on
the most important policies you want to pass so that plans can be
made to start now.
Localities and those who want to advocate for local changes need to
research their state's laws to ensure that the steps they plan to take
follow what is allowed under state law.
ASS ESS M E NT O F LOCAL (C ITI ES O R
COUNTIES) ACTION TO PROTECT
ABORTION RIGHTS
SCORE
1-5
1 LOWEST,
S HIGHEST
01 Locality provides education regarding abortion services,
possible liability, and how abortion-laws may impact
individuals
Hospital provides accurate training for providers regarding
OZ
abortion care and documentation about related
conditions
03 Locality provides funding and education about what court
processes individuals could face if the state becomes
involved in pregnancy-related situations
O4Hospital has record management policies that carefully
consider the type of information it keeps related to
abortion and related services so as to not put individuals
at risk of prosecution
OS Locality restricts law enforcement's use of data collection
or surveillance technologies to locate or identify those
who have accessed abortion care, including digital app
information
06 County, district, and city attorneys decline to prosecute
criminal cases involving abortion-related crimes for
patients and doctors involved with this care
07 Hospital implemented policies that do not allow police to
question patients hospitalized related to pregnancy or
abortion care
OQ Locality passed policies that bar local officials and
O employees from cooperating in investigations with out-of-
state investigations and prosecutions related to abortion
care and reproductive health
Olp Locality passed policies to not permit bounty-style
JJ hunting of individuals who attempt to access abortion
services
10 Locality ensured its zoning regulations do not burden
abortion providers or make it more difficult for providers
to provide care
ASS ESS M E NT O F LOCAL (C ITI ES O R
COUNTIES) ACTION TO PROTECT
ABORTION RIGHTS
SCORE
1-5
1 LOWEST,
5 HIGHEST
Locality ensured the safety of those who work or seek
services from reproductive care and abortion clinics
12 Locality has noise ordinances that restrict the ability of
anti-choice activists to create a hostile environment near
these clinics
Locality has buffer zones around clinics to protect those
seeking care from being harassed and accosted in a
specific perimeter around the clinics
14 Locality ensured public libraries have resources for
individuals to conduct internet searches on abortion
information within the library, not on their personal device
15 Locality made the availability of this library service (above)
publicized so people know it is accessible and available
1 / Local leaders have taken steps to coordinate with cities
6 where abortion is banned and cities in states where
abortions are legal to build infrastructure to help people
access abortion services
1 Government-run clinics in locality have become abortion
providers
18 Local leaders work with state officials to receive additional
1 funding (to provide for additional providers, service
materials, etc.) that may be needed with increased care
need
19 Locality provides funding or hospital space for increased
abortion care needs
20 Locality has an easily-accessed portal or line of
communication that individuals and providers can access
regarding abortion information or to report concerns
ASS ESS M E NT O F LOCAL (C ITI ES O R
COUNTIES) ACTION TO PROTECT
ABORTION RIGHTS
SCORE
1-S
1 LOWEST,
5 HIGHEST
21 Public health department provides abortion care
information
2 Locality provides funding for the public health
department to provide abortion information
-23 Local leaders are vocal supporters, even at a statewide
level, of pro-choice abortion laws,whether existing in your
state or other states
24 Local leaders take steps to convey the pro-choice values
they believe are reflective of their constituents
Locality has dedicated specific funds to assist individuals
2 (including those from out-of-state) with accessing
abortion care
2 Locality has dedicated specific funds to assist
organizations that provide this abortion care
27 Localities lead by example and provide their employees'
employer-provided subsidies or funds to assist with the
costs of abortion-related care,travel, time-off, and
childcare