Colorado will not cooperate with other states’ abortion investigations after Polis issues executive order

Authored by coloradosun.com and submitted by Eimbricata

Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Wednesday saying Colorado will protect people who seek abortions and those who provide them, including those in or from other states.

The order says the state won’t assist in criminal or civil actions in other states aimed at preventing women from getting access to abortion. It also instructs the Department of Regulatory Affairs to protect anyone with a Colorado professional license from discipline for providing or seeking reproductive health care in any state.

“We are taking needed action to protect and defend individual freedom and protect the privacy of Coloradans,” Polis, a Democrat running for reelection, said in a statement. “This important step will ensure that Colorado’s thriving economy and workforce are not impacted based on personal health decisions that are wrongly being criminalized in other states.”

The order comes nearly two weeks after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in 1973.

Earlier this year, Polis signed a bill protecting reproductive health, including access to abortion and various forms of birth control, in the state.

But Wednesday’s order is a reaction to numerous states that are threatening to prosecute women who cross state lines to get an abortion, as many have done in recent months. At least six states have total bans on abortion, while others in the process of implementing bans via “trigger laws” that take effect within a specified time after court action overturning Roe.

Colorado abortion rights groups expect the state to see an influx of people seeking abortions.

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Democratic lawmakers praised the governor’s action.

“I appreciate Gov. Polis’ executive order to protect patients and providers, because with abortion access now in jeopardy, or outright banned, in too many Republican-controlled states across the country, this is a crucial time in which we all must do everything that we can to defend these fundamental rights,” said state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat.

travyhaagyCO on July 7th, 2022 at 22:58 UTC »

Colorado's abortion rate has plummeted as well due to good policies. "Since the start of the 2008 Colorado Family Planning Initiative, the number of abortions performed in the state fell by nearly half for women between the ages of 15–19."

oohkt on July 7th, 2022 at 22:07 UTC »

Massachusetts did something like this 2 weeks ago in anticipation of future bullshit. Some states are just fucking badass. The defensive move was immediate.

Article from 6/24 Gov Baker signs executive order to shield Mass. abortion providers from lawsuits

Executive Order Massachusetts Governor Signs Executive Order to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Services

WoogiemanSam on July 7th, 2022 at 21:01 UTC »

Once again, thank you for setting a forward-thinking and rational example for the rest of this country to follow CO. This is government working for its citizens, not against them, take note.