SARAH'S WORLD PRESS
Progressive Amendment to Restrictive Abortion Ban
ATLANTA (SP) — In an unprecedented amendment to the 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban signed into Georgia law on Tuesday, lawmakers have shocked the nation with the quickest update to any bill in the state's history. What was initially viewed with outrage by pro-choice supporters has now fallen into a gray area with the added provisions:
- Free healthcare for mothers and their children, from conception to age 5, including:
- Prenatal medical appointments
- Postpartum checkups (as needed for a minimum of 1 year)
- Prenatal mental health visits and postpartum therapy sessions (as needed for up to 3 years)
- Free transportation to and from all healthcare appointments
- Monthly stipend for baby supplies for the first 24 months after birth (for items such as diapers, milk replacement formula, bottles & accessories, breast pumping supplies, baby food)
- Monthly stipend equal to previous living wage prior to pregnancy for first 6 months, postpartum
- Additional funds will be given in cases of job discrimination during pregnancy or health issues preventing pregnant mother from working
- Free childcare for children up to age 5
The future outcome of such a law is unclear, but these new changes have many thinking this is a step in the right direction.
This is a developing story.