Updated January 18, 2016
2015 marks groundbreaking progress on passing laws to improve the lives of New York women.
This success is the result of years of advocates working together on key policy reform and unprecedented bi-partisan support of our elected officials. As the lead on Equal Pay and a Steering Committee member of the Women’s Equality Coalition, PowHerNY is proud to be part of New York Herstory! Below is an update on the status of women’s rights legislation, including the 10 Point Women’s Equality Agenda proposed by Governor Cuomo in 2013 and additional new laws.
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As we cheer this extraordinary accomplishment, PowHerNY invites you to be part of the work ahead to achieve lasting change. Sign up to stay informed and involved!
Please click on the title of the bill to expand for descriptions.
Women’s Equality Agenda 10-Point Legislation
Bills active as of January 19, 2016
Equal Pay
Bill Number: S.1 (Savino)/A.6075 (Titus)
What it does:1) Strengthen our equal pay laws to make it tougher for employers to get away with paying women less; (2) Outlaw wage secrecy policies and prevent employer retaliation; and (3) Increase damages available to a prevailing litigant to 300% of unpaid wages.
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Sexual Harassment
Bill number: S.2 (Valesky)/A.5360(Galef)
What it does: Extend sexual harassment protections to employees of all private businesses, no matter how large or small.
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Attorney's Fees
Bill number: S.3 (Little)/A.7189 (Dinowitz)
What it does: Allow litigants who win a sex discrimination suit to collect attorney’s fees.
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Family Status Discrimination
Bill number: S.4 (Little)/A.7173 (Russell)
What it does: Outlaws discrimination against parents in the workplace.
DV & Section 8 Housing Discrimination
Bill number: S.5 (Robach)/A.6354B (Peoples-Stokes)
What it does: Prohibit building owners, managers and leasing agents from refusing to lease or sell to a person, or evict a tenant, because of status as a domestic violence victim; and creates Taskforce to study source of income discrimination on access to housing.
Pilot Program for Videoconferencing
Bill number: S.6 (Young)/A.6262 (Joyner)
What it does: Authorizes the creation of a pilot program to allow domestic violence victims to testify remotely when seeking a temporary order of protection.
Human Trafficking
Bill number:S.7 (Lanza)/A./506(Paulin)
What it does: Offer better protection to survivors of human trafficking by treating survivors as victims and holding perpetrators accountable. This will include establishing an affirmative defense for trafficking victims, creating the crime of aggravated patronizing of a minor, and allowing victims to take civil action against their traffickers.
View informational Video
Pregnancy Accommodation
Bill number: S.8 (Hannon)/A.4272 (Gunther)
What it does: Require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.
Order of Protection Violations
Bill number: S.5605 (Robach)/A.6547-B (Weinstein)
What it does: Ensure that a protected party cannot be held in violation of an order of protection, or be arrested, for violating the order.
Awaiting Action
Reproductive Health
Bill number: S.4432 (Stewart-Cousins)/A.6221 (Glick)
What it does: Ensure that a woman can access abortion care when her health is at risk by codifying in New York State law the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.
Other Women Focused Bills
Bills active as of January 19, 2016
Pregnancy Insurance
Bill number: S.5972B (Seward)/A. 6780B (Simotas)
What it does: Makes pregnancy a “qualifying event” so that pregnant women can enroll in insurance plans outside of the “open enrollment period.”
Breastfeeding Bill of Rights Notification Act
Bill number: S.5183 (Hannon)/A.7202A (Gunther)
What it does:Ensure that mothers know their rights to continue breastfeeding when they return to work.
Nail Salon Workers
Bill number: S.5966 (Venditto)/A.7630A (Kim)
What it does: Improves working conditions for nail salon workers by requiring employers to provide safety equipment, to post a Bill of Rights, and to secure accident, liability, and wage coverage insurance.
View informational Video
Campus Sexual Assault
Bill number: S.5965 (LaValle)/A.8244 (Glick)
What it does: Implements prevention and response policies and procedures for colleges and universities on sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.
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