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An ordinance to amend Title 2, Chapter 210, of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, by adding an additional requirement to Nashville’s Do Better Bill.
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WHEREAS, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, No. 19-1392, 597 U.S. ___, a landmark decision in which the court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any right to abortion, overruling nearly 50 years of legal precedent established under Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey; and
WHEREAS, shortly after this decision, the Office of Mayor John Cooper contacted the Metropolitan Human Resources Department to request an assessment of the current availability of benefits providing transportation, accommodation, and related costs when necessary to obtain medical treatment that is otherwise unavailable in Tennessee, and to initiate the process for extending such coverage, if necessary, through the Metro Employee Benefit Board; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council supports the right to abortion access previously established under Roe v. Wade and finds that restrictions upon reproductive rights and private healthcare decisions threaten the safety and wellbeing of the residents of Nashville and Davidson County, particularly for women unable to travel to neighboring jurisdictions where abortion care is safe and legal; and
WHEREAS, it is important for the residents of Davidson County to know whether companies seeking economic and community development incentive grant agreements and PILOT agreements with the metropolitan government provide their employees with similar access to obtain medical treatment that is otherwise unavailable in their respective home states.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Section 2.210.030 of the Code of Laws of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is hereby amended by adding a new section B(5) as follows:
5. Whether the qualified company provides its employees with benefits that include transportation, accommodation, and related costs when necessary to obtain medical treatment that is otherwise unavailable in the employees’ home state, including reproductive healthcare treatment such as abortion.
Section 2. Be it further enacted that this ordinance take effect immediately after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Section 2.210.030 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, which is part of the legislation known as the “Do Better Bill.” This legislation added reporting requirements for companies seeking economic and community development incentive grants and payment in lieu of taxes (“PILOT”) incentives. These requirements include the type and number of jobs the company will create, the number of jobs to be filled by residents of Davidson County, whether projects will use apprentices from programs certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, and the number and types of OSHA or TOSHA violations against the company or any contractor retained on the project, among other information.
The ordinance under consideration adds a requirement that the company report whether it provides its employees with benefits that include covering the cost of transportation, accommodations, and other related costs when necessary to obtain medical treatment not otherwise available in the employee’s home state. This would include reproductive healthcare treatment such as abortion.