Committee on Health and Human Relations
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, On May 9, 2022, as part of the "Justice For All Pledge", Mayor Lightfoot announced a $500,000 investment from the Chicago Department of Public Health to support the funding of safe and necessary reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological care, and transportation, lodging, and follow up services for such care; and
WHEREAS, This commitment is an important first step, but we can and must do more to protect all individuals seeking reproductive care from City clinics and hospitals, including ensuring that everyone in need of care is safe as they enter and exit clinics and hospitals and that they have adequate assistance after receiving care; and
WHEREAS, For this reason, the City hereby establishes the Chicago Abortion Clinic Defense Fund to provide funding for direct services for reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological care from clinics and hospitals in Chicago, funding for transportation, lodging, and follow up services for such care, grants to support clinic escorts and associated costs, and to establish a legal defense fund to assist clinic staff or clients that are targeted with legal action; and
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are hereby incorporated to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. In addition to any funds previously appropriated or allocated for such purposes, an additional $500,000 is hereby appropriated for the Department of Public Health to provide funding for direct services for reproductive, obstetric, and gynecological care, funding for transportation, lodging, and follow up services for such care, including hiring navigators to advise individuals seeking abortion care regarding any logistical hurdles to access such care, grants to support clinic escorts and associated costs, and to establish a legal defense fund to assist clinic staff or clients that are targeted with legal action. This appropriation and the $500,000 previously allocated by the Department of Public Health in connection with the "Justice For All Pledge" shall hereby be allocated to the Chicago Abortion Clinic Defense Fund created by this ordinance and accompanying Exhibit A.
SECTION 3. The Commissioner of Public Health shall establish programs authorized under this ordinance as quickly as practicable and to report back to the Committee on Public Health at least quarterly on the status and budget of such programs.
SECTION 4. The 2022 Annual Appropriation Ordinance is hereby amended by striking the words and figures and adding the words and figures indicated in the attached Exhibit A which is hereby made a part hereof. To the extent that any ordinance, resolution, order or provision of the Municipal Code of Chicago, or part thereof, is in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance, the provisions of this ordinance shall control. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this ordinance shall beheld invalid, the invalidity of such section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the other provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 5. This ordinance shall take effect 10 days after passage and publication.