(June 17, 2019, 7:32 a.m.) -- Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce, joined by Councilmembers Suzie Price, Al Austin and Rex Richardson, have agendized an item for the June 18 City Council meeting to "support the denouncement of HB481, Georgia's Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act, which bans abortions if a doctor can detect a heartbeat and denounce HB314, Alabama's Human Life Protection Act that bans abortions at any stage of pregnancy."

If approved by a LB Council majority, it would authorize LB's City Manager to "suspend all travel, contracts, etc. from the states of Georgia and Alabama, so long as the bills become law" and would:

1. Request the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for adoption denouncing Georgia's Living Infants Fairness and Equality (Life) act (HB 481) and Alabama's hb314,immediately suspending official travel to Georgia, Alabama and any other state which adopts similar heartbeat legislation and imposing financial sanctions until such time as the new law is revoked, amended, or struck down".

2. Direct staff to send signed copies of the adopted resolution to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, California Governor Gavin Newsom, California State Senator Ben Allen, California State Assembly Member Richard Bloom, and others as deemed appropriate.

3. Authorize the City Manager to suspend official travel to the State of Georgia and any other state identified by the City's Government Affairs Office as having adopted heartbeat legislation substantially similar to Georgia's HB 481 and HB314, until such time the law is revoked, amended, or struck down by the courts, or unless determined by the City Manager that a critical City need would be impacted and could not otherwise be accomplished.

4. Direct the City Manager to maintain and update the list of states to which the City has suspended official travel due to similar heartbeat laws and make this list available on the City's website.

5. Direct the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk to review all current and likely future contracts with Georgia-based businesses in order to examine the feasibility of procuring such products and services elsewhere until such time as Georgia's AB 481 and HB314, is revoked, amended, or struck down by the courts.

[Scroll down for further.]

The Councilmembers' agendizing memo states in pertinent part:

The City of Long Beach has a track record of supporting women's rights and reproductive health. It has continually supported state and federal legislation protecting and advancing women's reproductive rights, access to healthcare, and funds for preventative health care services. Opposition to Georgia's HB 481 and similar anti-abortion legislation that serves to eliminate a woman's right to choose and hinder the availability of reproductive healthcare is in line with the City's long-standing values and legislative priorities. The City has taken similar action to suspend travel to states that have adopted legislation that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression - such as North Carolina's HB2 - or legislation that is anti immigration - such as Arizona's SB 1070.

The proposed resolution to ban official travel to Georgia and Alabama and impose financial sanctions is in line with the City's past actions to address discriminatory legislation that is in opposition to the City's established priorities...

Their full agendizing memo can be viewed at this link.

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