[MUSIC]
>>> WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE
JULY 22, 2022 MEETING OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, EDUCATION, CIVIL
RIGHTS, AND CULTURE WILL COME
TO ORDER.
I AM TAMMY MORALES, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ROLL BEING CALLED.]
FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT IS THE STRONG INTENT OF THE
COUNCIL DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
AT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETINGS.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY
THE COMMENT PERIOD IF WE DEEM
THE SYSTEM BEING ABUSED.
I WILL MODIFY THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
WE HAVE UP TO 20 MINUTES AND
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN UP
TO TWO MINUTES.
WILL START WITH I BELIEVE ONE
PERSON ONLINE AND ONE PERSON
PRESENT. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
START IN CHAMBERS HERE.
MR. TSIMERMAN, YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN.
I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT AGENDA
NUMBER ONE BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT
HUMAN RIGHTS.
HONESTLY I HAVE NOT SEEN HUMAN
RIGHTS IN THE CHAMBER FOR MANY
YEARS AND ASSUMED HE
DISAPPEARED TOTALLY.
A WOMAN OF COLOR AND WHY? I AM
TOTALLY CONFUSED.
IS THAT HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN
SOMEBODY HAS A RIGHT AND
SOMEBODY DON'T HAVE A RIGHT.
I SEE THIS EVERY TIME AND I
COME TO SEE THE COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN.
BOARD EXAMPLES, THEY NEVER SHOW
MY FACE PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE
THIS GREAT FACE AND I AM
JEWISH.
NO PROBLEM, NO PROBLEM.
IT IS OUT RIGHT JUDAISM AND
WHY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
RIGHT NOW I SPEAK TO EVERYBODY
TO LISTEN TO ME.
IT IS LIKE ESTOPPEL PRINCIPAL
AND I HAD SPOKEN FOR 3000 TIMES
AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR THE
LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS.
CAN WE DO SOMETHING AND CIVIL
RIGHTS FOR EVERYBODY, YES WE
CAN.
BUT BEFORE WE ARE DOING THIS,
WHEN WE ARE DOING IT, IT IS
TRANSITIONING FROM THIS AND
THEY SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT ARE
DEMOCRAT.
I'M NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.
I AM NOT INDEPENDENT.
I AM A JEWISH OLD MAN.
RIGHTS LIKE EVERYBODY AND WHY
THEY NEVER SHOW MY FACE, THEY
ARE PROBABLY SCARED.
SO I COME EVERY MEETING.
ASKED THEM WHERE ISSUE, AND
STAND UP AMERICA AND CLEANS
THIS DIRTY CHAMBER FROM THIS
CYCLE.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE ONE ONLINE COMMENTOR,
DAVID HAYNES BUT I SHOW HIM AS
NOT PRESENT.
OKAY, I THINK WE ARE DONE WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT.
IN THAT CASE I WILL CLOSE THE
COMMENT PERIOD.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE POLICY
DISCUSSION, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE TWO COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
ABLE TO JOIN US SORT OF LAST-
MINUTE SO THEY ARE NOT ON THE
AGENDA.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE KIER
AND YVETTE.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS HERE.
>> NO OBJECTION AT ALL BUT I
WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I WAS
ABLE TO JOIN JUST AS THE PUBLIC
COMMENT BEGAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
APPRECIATE IT.
HEARING NO OBJECTION I WOULD
LIKE TO INVITE KIA AND YVETTE
TO JOIN US AND THEN WE WILL
BEGIN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO START AND
INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PER
CHOICE WASHINGTON AND WE ARE
THE LEADING ORGANIZATION FOCUS
SPECIFICALLY ON POLITICAL AND
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TO ADVANCE
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN
WASHINGTON STATE. WE BEEN
ORGANIZING IN COMMUNITIES FOR
NEARLY 50 YEARS TO TAKE DOWN
THE BARRIERS FOR ABORTION
ACCESS AND TO PREPARE FOR THE
MOMENT WE FIND OURSELVES IN
TODAY.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
AND HERBOLD FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS CRITICAL
ISSUE WHERE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY, AND ALL OF YOU IN THIS
COMMITTEE SUPPORTING THIS WORK
. WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ENSURE
THAT EVERYONE HAS ABORTION
ACCESS IN SEATTLE THAT NEEDS
IT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A
CITY AND STATE THAT RECOGNIZES
THAT ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE.
THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
BANNING ABORTION ARE
ASTRONOMICAL.
THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
AFFIRMS STATE LAW BY CODIFYING
PROTECTION FOR PATIENTS AND
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AT THE
CITY LEVEL.
THIS WITH CONTINUED INVESTMENT
ON ABORTION FUNDING AND LOCAL
CLINICS TO MEET THE
UNPRECEDENTED PATIENT NEEDS WE
ARE FACING ARE CRUCIAL.
EVEN WITH LAWMAKER SUPPORT AND
YEARS OF ACTIVISM PATIENTS IN
WASHINGTON CONTINUE TO FACE
BARRIERS TO RECEIVING QUALITY
CARE AND THIS WILL ONLY BE
EXACERBATED WHEN WE FACE A
NEARLY FOUR TIMES INCREASE IN
PATIENTS SEEKING CARE FROM OUT-
OF-STATE HERE IN WASHINGTON. WE
ALSO KNOW THAT IT HAS TAKEN A
GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND TIME TO
ENSURE THAT DATA PROTECTS
ABORTION TODAY.
IT IS ALL OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES AS INDIVIDUALS
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT EASIER
FOR EVERYONE TO GET CARE AND TO
SPEAK OPENLY AND
UNAPOLOGETICALLY ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF ABORTION AS
HEALTH CARE.
EVEN IN A CITY AND STATE POLICE
IN ABORTION CARE PATIENTS FACE
COST AND TRANSPORTATION
BARRIERS, BIASES WITHIN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, RAMPANT AND
DIGITAL HARASSMENT, AND
CONTINUE STIGMA OF SEEKING CARE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK ON
ENSURING QUALITY CARE FOR
EVERYONE, AND EVEN NOW PATIENTS
IN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE
ARE DYING DIED, DENIED CRITICAL
CARE DUE TO HOSPITAL POLICIES.
THAT INCLUDES ACTIVELY
MISCARRYING PATIENTS THAT COME
HERE SEEKING CARE FROM OTHER
STATES.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE
SAFETY NET.
OVER THE PAST DECADE UNDER
REGULATED HEALTH SYSTEMS
EMERGING IN WASHINGTON LEADING
TO FEWER AND MORE EXPENSIVE
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
OPTIONS AND PARTICULARLY IN
RURAL COMMUNITIES AND KING
COUNTY AS WELL.
TODAY AT NEARLY 50% OF HOSPITAL
BEDS SET WITHIN FACILITIES WITH
RESTRICTIVE POLICIES, 26%
INCREASE FROM THE LAST DECADE.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN NEAR DEATH
EXPERIENCES FOR PATIENCE AND
CONSEQUENCES FOR MEDICAL
PROVIDERS WORKING TO PROVIDE
THE BEST STANDARDS OF CARE.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO HOLD A
HOSPITALS TO THE HIGH STANDARDS
OF CARE AND ENSURE THAT MERGERS
DO NOT RESULT IN A LOSS OF
PATIENT LIGHT OR DENIAL OF CARE
FOR THOSE SEEKING SERVICES FROM
OUT-OF-STATE.
WE ALSO NEED TO DO MORE TO
ENSURE THAT PATIENTS RECEIVE
ACCURATE INFORMATION.
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS OR
CLINICS ARE INTENTIONALLY SET
UP TO LOOK LIKE REAL CLINICS
AND MANY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY
NEXT TO REAL REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CLINICS AND SPECIFICALLY
TARGETING LOW INCOME AND
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND YOUNG
PEOPLE.
BECAUSE THE CPCS RARELY ARE
CURATE AND EARLY SIGNS OF
DANGEROUS MEDICAL ISSUES MAY
AND HAVE BEEN MISSED.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING A RISE IN
PRIVACY CONCERNS WITH THE LAWS
IN OTHER STATES ACTIVELY
SEEKING TO PERSECUTE PEOPLE IN
WASHINGTON FOR A VARIETY OF CARE
TO PATIENTS FROM THEIR STATES
AND UNLIKE MEDICAL CLINICS THE
CPCS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO KEEP
YOUR PERSONAL AND MEDICAL
INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL.
THE PERSONAL INFORMATION
GATHERED BY CPCS COULD BE USED
AS EVIDENCE IN CIVIL OR
CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST PEOPLE
GETTING AN ABORTION OR THAT
HELP THEM GET ABORTIONS.
AS A RESULT WE MUST CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS TO
FIGHT MISLEADING AND HARMFUL
PRACTICES AT CPCS . IN THIS
UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT WE MUST
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO
UNLOCK ALL FINANCIAL AND
STRUCTURAL BARRIERS THAT THE
PATIENTS ARE FACING.
WE KNOW THAT IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF
WASHINGTON AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AGAINST OVERTURNING ROE
V WADE.
WE KNOW IT IS THE LEADING ISSUE
FOR VOTERS HEADING INTO
NOVEMBER, IN WASHINGTON STATE
SPECIFICALLY.
WE MUST TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY
AS A ST. GEORGE STATE AND
SANCTUARY CITY SERIOUSLY.
WE CANNOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
IT TAKES ALL OF US AND OUR
CONTINUED DEDICATION TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE PROTECT PEOPLE
GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO THIS
COMMITTEE.
TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES
AND HERBOLD FOR YOUR WORK AND
DEDICATION ON LEADING THIS
LEGISLATION AND TO PROTECT THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ABORTION
CARE.
WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE
MOVEMENT, THE LOVE IT REQUIRES
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO PARTNER
WITH YOU TO HELP PATIENTS
ACROSS THE STATE.
TAKE YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, KIA.
BEFORE YOU BEGAN I GOT AHEAD OF
MYSELF BEFORE AND I SHOULD HAVE
AT LEAST PREFACED THE AGENDA
TODAY.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
TODAY.
THAT IS COUNCIL BILL 120374,
AN ORDINANCE TO GUARANTEE CIVIL
RIGHTS PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE
THAT HAVE RECEIVED OR SEEKING
ABORTIONS AND COUNCIL BILL
1203 76 TWO GREAT THE
MISDEMEANOR CHARGE FOR THOSE
ENCROACHING ON THOSE SEEKING
ABORTION OR GENDER-AFFIRMING
CARE IN THE CITY.
I WANT TO THANK OUR
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND HER
STAFF, AND MIGHT STAFF, ALEXIS
OLIVER AND DEVON FOR GETTING
THE WORK DONE AS WELL AS KETIL
FREEMAN AND ANN GORMAN THAT
HELPED US MAKE SURE THE
LANGUAGES RIGHT.
WITH THAT CONTEXT SETTING,
EVENT, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND
LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR WORK,
YVETTE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING
LEADERSHIP AND IN PROTECTING
AND IT ADVANCING ABORTION
ACCESS IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AS
THE ALLYING CHAMPION ON THIS
CRITICAL CARE.
I AM A VET, WASHINGTON STATE
GOVERNMENTS MANAGER AND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ALLIANCE ADVOCATES.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE
THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED
NEARLY 50 YEARS OF PRECEDENT
AND ELIMINATED THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT TO ABORTION.
IN THAT TIME MY COLLEAGUES AT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND ABORTION
PROVIDERS AROUND THE COUNTRY
HAVE SEEN PATIENTS THAT ARE
SCARED, UNSURE OF WHERE TO TURN
AND BEING STRIPPED OF THEIR
RIGHT TO THIS FUNDAMENTAL BASIC
HEALTH CARE.
IN WASHINGTON THANKS TO DECADES
OF RELENTLESS WORK TO DEFEND
AND EXPAND OUR RIGHTS BY
LEADERS IN SEATTLE LIKE ALL OF
YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ACROSS
THE STATE, ABORTION IS STILL
LEGAL.
ABORTION PROVIDERS IN
WASHINGTON ARE AND WILL REMAIN
OPEN TO ALL PATIENT.
WE ARE NOT ONLY HERE FOR
WASHINGTON STATE PATIENTS BUT
EVERYONE NO MATTER WHAT STATE
YOU LIVE IN OR NO MATTER WHO
YOUR LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNORS ARE
, PROVIDERS IN WASHINGTON ARE
HERE TO WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN
ARMS.
WE ALREADY SEEING PATIENTS FROM
STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHOSE
OWN PEOPLE HAVE ABANDONED THEM
AND LEFT THEM WITHOUT ACCESS TO
BASIC HEALTH CARE.
BECAUSE OF THE STRONG SUPPORT
AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THAT WE
EXPECT AN INFLUX OF PATIENTS
IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS
AND STUDIES ESTIMATE THAT WE
SHOULD EXPECT 385% GROWTH IN
OUT-OF-STATE PATIENTS TRAVELING
TO WASHINGTON STATE TO ACCESS
ABORTION CARE.
THAT IS WHY POLICIES ANNOUNCE
TODAY ARE SO CRITICAL TO
SAFEGUARDING AND MAINTAINING
ABORTION ACCESS IN SEATTLE.
WE WANT OUR PROVIDERS AND
PATIENTS TO BE SAFE, PROTECTED
AND EMPOWERED TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE ABORTION THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY, COUNTY AND STATE NO
MATTER WHAT.
LET'S BE CLEAR.
WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL PATIENTS
THAT WANT TO TRAVEL TO
WASHINGTON TO ACCESS ABORTION
WILL BE ABLE TO GET HERE FOR
CARE.
STATE ABORTION BANS SWEEPING
THE COUNTRY AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY FILLING
BLACK, LATINO, INDIGENOUS AND
OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE
OF LOW INCOME, LGBTQ PEOPLE,
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND
GRANTS AND MORE DUE TO THE
COUNTRY LEGACY OF RACISM AND
SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION.
ABORTION AS HEALTH CARE, PERIOD
. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
LEADERS HERE TODAY.
ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
ACROSS THE STATE FOR STANDING
STRONG AND ENSURING THAT
PATIENTS CAN RELY ON WASHINGTON
STATE FOR HEALTH CARE.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, HERBOLD, AND ALL THE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
JUST FOR BEING A STRONG VOICE
FOR OUR PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS
IN SEATTLE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH YOU.
I WILL PASS IT BACK TO
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH , YVETTE
AND KIA FOR BEING HERE.
WE KNOW AS YVETTE SAID THERE
WILL BE AN INCREASE IN
ABORTION THE MAN AND WASHINGTON
STATE MOST LIKELY COMING FROM
IDAHO AND MONTANA.
WE KNOW THAT OUR CAPACITY WILL
BE TESTED.
WE WANT TO START ANTICIPATING
AND GETTING READY FOR THAT
ISSUE HERE.
WE ALSO WANT TO KNOW THAT WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
PROVIDE OR TO THOSE SEEKING
ABORTION CARE AND PROVIDING IT.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD, AND WE
WILL BE JOINED BY FREEMAN AND
GORMAN.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNCIL
BILL 120374 INCLUDING
PROTECTION AGAINST
DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
INDIVIDUAL ACTUAL, POTENTIAL,
PERCEIVED OR LISTED PREGNANCY
OUTCOMES AND AMENDING SECTIONS.
>> THE SHORT TITLE IS FINE.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE
>> THANK YOU, DEVIN.
I THOUGHT I HAD INCLUDED THAT
IN MY NOTES BUT OKAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST BILL.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH OF YOU IS
GOING TO SPEAK TO IT.
>> I AM GOING TO SPEAK TO IT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND I AM
YVETTE, CENTRAL STAFF.
WE HAVE TWO BILLS RELATED TO
ABORTION BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
TODAY.
I'M HERE TO DESCRIBE COUNCIL
BILL 120374.
MY COLLEAGUES, ANN GORMAN WILL
COVER COUNCIL BILL 120376.
THE MEMO YOU HAVE RECEIVED HAS
AN ACCURATE FEEL NUMBER FOR
120374 AND WE WILL GET THAT
CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
BUT NO SUBSTITUTE CHANGES.
I HAVE A SINGLE STAFF MEMO
DISCUSSING BOTH PILLS BECAUSE
THEY ARE RELATED IN SUBJECT
MATTER AND CONTEXT.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
RESEARCH AND GROUNDWORK THAT
JASMINE DID ON THE BUILD OF THE
BILL THAT I WILL DESCRIBE
úTODAY.
THIS IS 120374 SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IN
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THAT WILL DISTRIBUTE WITH
PROHIBITING FOR THOSE FOR A
PORTION OF ABORTION OUTCOME.
IN ORDER TO PUT DISCRIMINATION
ON THE PREGNANCY OUTCOME,
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WE FIRST
HAVE TO DEFINE PREGNANCY
OUTCOME IN THE CODE.
THIS BILL WILL DO THAT AND I
WILL READ THE DEFINITION FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWERS OF
THE MEETING.
PREGNANCY OUTCOMES MEANS THE
RESULT OF FERTILIZATION AND
RESULT OF THE ENSUING PREGNANCY
AS EXPERIENCED BY THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS OR WAS
PREGNANT. EXAMPLES OF OUTCOMES
THAT ARE THE RESULT OF
FERTILIZATION EVENT INCLUDE BUT
NOT LIMITED TO LIVE BIRTH,
STILLBIRTH, MISCARRIAGE AND
ABORTION.
EXAMPLES OF OUTCOMES THAT ARE
THE RESULT OF THE ENSUING
PREGNANCY INCLUDE BUT NOT
LIMITED TO GRAVIDARUM, MORNING
SICKNESS, PREGNANCY RELATED
ANEMIA, ECLAMPSIA AND PERINATAL
DEPRESSION.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO ADD A
REFERENCE TO THE DEFINITION TO
THE VERY SECTIONS OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE THAT
ADDRESSES DISCRIMINATION.
THESE ADDITIONS WOULD BANNED
DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
AN INDIVIDUAL ACTUAL POTENTIAL
PERCEIVED OR ALLEGED PREGNANCY
OUTCOME, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
GREATER PROTECTION THAN JUST
BANNING DISCRIMINATION ON THE
BASIS OF THE OUTCOMES
THEMSELVES.
THE BILL PUT ACTUAL POTENTIAL
PERCEIVED OR ALLEGED PREGNANCY
OUTCOMES ON PAR WITH OTHER
DISCRIMINATION, PROHIBITIONS
AND EFFICACY LIKE THE BASIS OF
AGE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS,
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY.
IT WOULD GIVE THE SADDLE
SEATTLE OFFICE OF GENDER RIGHTS
FOR ALLEGED INSTANCES OF
DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
PREGNANCY OUTCOME AND TO LET
THE PENALTY UPON REASONABLE
CAUSE FINDING OF THE VIOLATION.
>> THANK YOU, ANN GORMAN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT YOU AND JASMINE DID.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO HERE, CREATING A
PROTECTIVE CLASS FOR THOSE
SEEKING ABORTION CARE?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO STATE --
I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
. I'M LOOKING AT YOU HERE BUT
YOU'RE ACTUALLY OVER THERE.
LEASE GO AHEAD.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> IT'S NOT A QUESTION BUT I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS TO COMMITTEE,
GIVING US TIME TO DISCUSS IT
AND PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> AGAIN, WE ARE TRYING TO
CREATE A PROTECTIVE CLASS FOR
THOSE SEEKING ABORTION CARE OR
GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AS WELL.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
DISCUSSION, THEN I WILL MOVE
THAT WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
COUNCIL BILL 120374.
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE
PASSAGE.
DEPUTY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ROLL BEING CALLED.]
>> WE WILL GIVE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ONE MORE GO.
>> THANK YOU.
I STILL CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW
DID USER ZOOM BUT AN ABSOLUTE
YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOTION CARRIES AN COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCIL
PASSED THE BILL WILL BE SENT TO
THE AUGUST NIGHT BULL CITY
COUNCIL MEETING.
OKAY.
DEVIN, PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, COUNCIL BILL
120376, ORDINANCE RELATED TO
THE CITY CRIMINAL CODE AMENDING
SECTION TO ADOPT THE REVISED
CODE OF WASHINGTON OFFENSE
INTERFERENCE WITH HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES AND PROVIDERS.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION OR
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE HAVE KETIL FREEMAN HERE
TO DISCUSS THE BILL AND
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
KETIL FREEMAN, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
I WILL DESCRIBE THE MECHANICS
OF THE BILL AND TALK ABOUT THE
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF
ADOPTING THIS STATE STATUTE
INTO THE SEATTLE CRIMINAL CODE.
MECHANICALLY COUNCIL BILL
120376 WOULD INCORPORATE OR
ADOPT BY REFERENCE THE
MISDEMEANOR CODIFIED IN CHAPTER
NINE A-DOT 50, SEATTLE CRIMINAL
CODE.
IT ESTABLISHES MISDEMEANOR THAT
ESTABLISHES WILLFUL OR RECKLESS
FOR VIOLENCE FOR THE CRIME
INTERFERING WITH ACCESS TO
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND
DISRUPTION OF THE OPERATION OF
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.
THE ACTIONS ARE THE ELEMENTS OF
THE CRIME AND CALLED
OBSTRUCTION, TRESPASS,
HARASSING PHONE CALLS, VIOLENCE
OR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
IT WOULD ALSO INCORPORATE THE
CRIMINAL PENALTIES INTO THE
SEATTLE CRIMINAL CODE AND THE
STATE STATUTE RAINS FROM THE
FINE UP TO $50 AND A DAY IN
JAIL FOR FIRST OFFENSE TO $1000
AND 30 DAYS IN JAIL FOR
SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES.
WHAT DOES THIS DO AS A
PRACTICAL MATTER? THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN CURRENTLY
IN FORCE THE STATE MISSED A
METER HOWEVER THE CITY HAS TO
RELY ON KING COUNTY FOR
PROSECUTION.
ADDING THIS SECTION TO THE
SEATTLE CRIMINAL CODE WILL
AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PROSECUTE THESE CRIMES IN THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT TO
EFFECTIVELY EXPAND THE FORMS
WHERE PROSECUTIONS CAN OCCUR.
THAT IS IT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I THINK THE IMPORTANCE OF BOTH
OF THESE BILLS IS THAT WE KNOW
THAT SEATTLE IS FORTUNATE TO BE
ABLE -- SEATTLEITES IS
FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS
HIGH-QUALITY ABORTION CARE
EASILY.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WILL BE COMING IN FROM
OTHER STATES AND SURROUNDING
AREAS WHERE ACCESS TO CARE IS
NOT ALLOWED. SO WE NEED TO BE
READY AND THE PREVIOUS BILL,
FOR EXAMPLE, AS FOLKS ARE
COMING FROM OUT OF STATE,
PEOPLE WILL BE STAYING AT
HOTELS.
PEOPLE WILL BE EATING MEALS AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE NOT TARGETED IN
ANYWAY WHILE THEY ARE HERE IN
THIS STATE AND PARTICULARLY
YEAR IN SEATTLE WHILE THEY ARE
SEEKING THAT CARE.
SIMILARLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IF SOMEBODY, IF THERE IS
HARASSMENT AS BEFORE TRYING TO
ACCESS CARE, IF THERE'S ANY
SORT OF INTERFERENCE, PUTTING
PEOPLE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE THEY
ARE TRYING TO SEEK THIS CARE,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE ABLE
TO PROSECUTE THAT KIND OF
BEHAVIOR.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO DO HERE.
I WILL ASK COLLEAGUES IF THERE
ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YOU CAN LET COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT GO AHEAD OF ME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, LEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
I HAVE A QUESTION BUT I WANT TO
MAKE SURE OF MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE BILL THAT IT IS CORRECT.
I WAS JUST LISTENING TO WHAT
KETIL FREEMAN WAS EXPLAINING
AND WE TALK ABOUT THE RCW OR
THE STATE LAW THAT IS RELEVANT
HERE.
SO THAT I KNOW THE LAWS AND
PENALTIES REGARDING INTERFERES
WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS,
ALREADY EXISTS ON THE STATE
LEVEL AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT CHANGE
ANY OF THAT.
RIGHT NOW THE SEATTLE POLICE
ARE ALREADY UNDER THE AUTHORITY
OF THE STATE LAW TO INVESTIGATE
AND ARREST PEOPLE WHO FOR
EXAMPLE MIGHT ATTACK AND
ABORTION CLINIC. RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THERE ARE STATE LAWS
THOSE ARRESTS WOULD BE STENT TO
TRIAL AT KING COUNTY COURT
RATHER THAN SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT.
THE ONLY EFFECT OF THE BILL IS
TO ALLOW THE CITY TO CHOOSE TO
PROSECUTE SOMEONE IN SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT RATHER THAN
KING COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT.
BUT THE KING COUNTY COURT WOULD
STILL BE AN OPTION. IS THAT ALL
ACCURATE QUESTION MARK BECAUSE
MY QUESTION IS AS I TRY TO
UNDERSTAND -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE OR IF
THIS MAINLY ABOUT MAKING A
STATEMENT OR REDIRECTING THE
STATEMENT THAT SEATTLE CARES
ABOUT AND SUPPORTS THE LAWS
THAT EXIST IN THIS STATE FOR
PROTECTION OF ABORTION CLINICS?
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT THAT THE
BILL DOES NOT SORT OF TAKE AWAY
KING COUNTY ABILITY TO PROSECUTE
CRIMES.
IT JUST ALLOWS THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO DO THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF KING COUNTY
ASKING ATTORNEY HAD A BACKLOG
OF FELONY CASES SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO
PRIORITIZE, THE CITY ATTORNEY
COULD CHOOSE TO PROSECUTE THOSE
CRIMES IN MUNICIPAL COURT.
THERE MAY BE SOME ADVANTAGES TO
PURSUING ACTIONS FOR CIVIL
REMEDIES IN SUPERIOR COURT.
THAT IS KING COUNTY COURT AS
OPPOSED TO MUNICIPAL COURT
BECAUSE THE STATE STATUTE
RESERVES CERTAIN TYPES OF
RELIEF LIKE INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
TO THE SUPERIOR COURT TO
PROVIDE THAT.
SO IF SOMEONE WAS SEEKING
SEVERAL REMEDIES THEY STILL MAY
WANT TO PURSUE AN ACTION IN
SUPERIOR COURT AS OPPOSED TO
MUNICIPAL COURT.
THAT IS THE DISTINCTION.
>> BUT COUNCILMEMBER, DOES THAT
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YEAH, I THINK SO.
FOR NOW ANYWAY.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, DID
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
I WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY
BEFORE THE LAST VOTE AND HAD A
QUESTION ABOUT BOTH BILLS BUT I
KNOW THAT BEYOND THESE TWO
BILLS WE NEED TO BE FUNDING
ABORTION ACCESS IN THIS
UPCOMING BUDGET.
WHEN I MET WITH THE MAYOR WHOSE
BUDGET TEAM JUST THIS WEEK, IT
WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF
SHARED PRIORITIES THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FUNDING
ABORTION ACCESS.
I KNOW MY TEAM LOOKED INTO
THESE BILLS.
I KNOW THAT YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD RAN THE
LEAD WITCH-HUNT RESPECT AND
PROMOTE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN
COSPONSORS I WOULD LIKE TO
COSPONSOR BUT IF NOT, TOTALLY
GREAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING YES
ON BOTH BILLS AND NOW ON THE
SECOND BILL.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> WE WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME
YOUR COSPONSORSHIP,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE WILL
BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, DID YOU
HAVE A QUESTION? I DID NOT SEE
YOU OUT OF MY PERIPHERAL
VISION.
>> NOT ANYMORE.
>> OKAY.
I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE
QUESTIONS.
I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT JUST
TO STATE THAT WE ARE ALREADY
HEARING ABOUT PEOPLE IN OTHER
STATES AND THE IMPACT OF THIS
DOBBS RULING ON FOLKS IN TEXAS
THAT ARE BEING DENIED
PRESCRIBED BIRTH CONTROL.
PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED LUPUS
MEDICATION BECAUSE IT MIGHT
LEAD TO MISCARRIAGES.
WOMEN ARE GETTING STERILIZED
RATHER THAN RISK PREGNANCY,
PARTICULARLY BY THE RAPIST.
THOSE ARE CONCERNS SOME PEOPLE
HAVING WHICH IS ANOTHER WHOLE
SET OF JARRING ISSUES TO THINK
ABOUT.
THE IMPACT OF THESE DECISIONS
ARE REAL AND BEING FELT ALREADY
IN A DRAMATIC AND IN MANY CASES
LIFE-THREATENING WAY.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
AS A CITY AND STATE THAT IS
PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE THAT
WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE
COMING HERE ARE PROTECTED.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING THE
CARE ARE PROTECTED AS WELL.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, AND I
DON'T SEE ANY, I WILL MOVE THAT
COUNCIL BILL 120376, MOVE FOR
PASSAGE AND CAN I GET A SECOND.
>> SECOND
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVED AND SECONDED.
DEVIN, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ROLL BEING CALLED.]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
MOTION CARRIES AND COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
PASSED THE BILL WILL BE SENT TO
THE AUGUST NIGHT CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AS WELL.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, THAT IS IT.
WE HAD A VERY SHORT AGENDA
TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK AGAIN PRO-
CHOICE WASHINGTON FOR BEING
HERE WITH US AND PLANNED
PARENTHOOD ALLIANCE.
I WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, ANN GORMAN, AND
KETIL FREEMAN, OUR STAFF AND
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE WORK
THEY'VE DONE.
WE ALSO RAN THE BILLS THROUGH
ACLU.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
ON THE RIGHT TRACK DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT
FOLKS, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
WE KNOW THAT SEATTLE IS GROUND
ZERO FOR SOME OF THE US.
SO WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM AND BE
IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN
STRENGTHEN EXISTING
PROTECTIONS, WHILE WE CREATE
MORE PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE
SEEKING THIS CARE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WORK TO
DO THAT.
WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, IF
THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, THIS
CONCLUDES THE JULY 22, 2022
MEETING. THE NEXT SCHEDULED
MEETING IS AUGUST 12 AT THAT
TIME. IT IS 10:03 A.M.
WE ARE