Title
Resolution Declaring Council’s Opposition to the United States Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson (Resolution 22069)
Description
Request for City Council consideration of a resolution declaring the City Council’s opposition to the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, opposing state laws limiting and criminalizing abortion, and supporting the rights of pregnant persons to access to reproductive health care, including abortions.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overruled the constitutional right to abortion previously recognized in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). In the 2022 Legislative Session, the Arizona Legislature adopted and Governor Ducey signed Senate Bill 1164, to be codified as A.R.S. §§ 36-2321 to 2326, which bans abortions after 15 weeks of gestation except in narrowly-defined medical emergencies, and provides that physicians who violate the ban are guilty of a criminal offense and are subject to civil penalties. This bill follows a history of state laws aimed at limiting or denying access to abortion care, including A.R.S. §§ 13-3603 to 3605, that impose a near total ban on abortions and subject providers to up to five years of imprisonment for performing abortions.
The proposed resolution declares Council’s support for the rights of pregnant persons in the City to obtain access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. The proposed resolution opposes the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, as well as the state laws that limit or deny access to abortion care. It calls on the Arizona State Legislature to repeal A.R.S. §§ 36-2321 to 2326 and all other Arizona laws aimed at limiting or denying access to abortion care, and to enact laws that protect full access to reproductive health care, including abortion. The proposed resolution also declares Council’s support for City officials in establishing law enforcement priorities that consider the need to protect the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being of pregnant persons and their care providers, and make the enforcement of laws that restrict or deny abortion and abortion-related care the lowest priority for law enforcement.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by City Manager Jeffrey Barton.