Our Legislative and Public Policy Committee, led by our mission and public hearing testimony, are advocating a brand new slate of bills for the 2019-2020 session

Women’s Advocacy Day was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the MA State House from 9:00am – 1:00pm.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved: Take a look at the video our Legislative and Public Policy Committee Chair, Becca Glenn, developed to prepare advocates to request cosponsorships for some of the Commission’s priority bills.

​​​​​​Interested in advocating with MCSW? Click here to register your contact information. Whether you have a general interest in advocacy, or want to advocate for a particular bill on our priority legislation list, we want to amplify your voice!

S.408/H.639

An Act Supporting Working Parents Who Choose to Run for Public Office

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Patricia Jehlen and Reps. Mike Connolly and Joan Meschino

Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Election Laws on 1/22/2019

Many working parents are discouraged from running for public office because of financial reasons. This bill would clarify that child care expenses for times while campaigning are not considered personal expenses.

S.1082/H.1617

An Act Requiring One Fair Wage

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Patricia Jehlen and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier

Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on 1/22/2019

The proposed bill would raise the minimum wage to $13.95 or the prevailing minimum wage every year after 2027 for tipped workers in Massachusetts. In doing so, it would bring thousands of workers out of poverty, reduce sexual harassment in the workplace, and decrease the wage gap between male and female tipped workers.

S.1057/H.1345

An Act to Require Sexual Harassment Training

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Cynthia Creem and Rep. Christine Barber

Status:
S.1057 – Referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development; H.1345 – Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary 1/22/2019

This bill would require Massachusetts employers to provide workplace-specific sexual harassment training that is live and interactive, as well as conduct climate surveys to identify risk factors and gauge the program’s effectiveness. This prevention-based training will promote respect in the workplace and avoid unlawful harassment, rather than simply focus on escaping liability.

Other Endorsed Legislation

S.1898/H.3572

An Act Promoting Equality and Respect in the Legislature

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Rebecca Rausch and Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa

Status:
S.1898: Referred to Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (on 1/22/2019); H.3572 – Discharged to Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (on 4/4/2019)

(S.1049/H.1625)

An Act Relative to the Defense Against Abuse Waivers

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Harriette Chandler and Rep. Kenneth Gordon

Status:
Hearing scheduled for 4/09/2019

S.736/H.1208

An Act Requiring Sexual Misconduct Surveys at Institutions of Higher Education

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. William Brownsberger and Rep. Lori Ehrlich

Status:
Hearing scheduled for 4/09/2019

S.764/H.1209

An Act Relative to Sexual Violence on Higher Education Campuses

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Michael Moore and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier

Status:
Hearing scheduled for 4/09/2019

S.1110/HD.3384

An Act Relative to the Scheduling of Employees

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Marc Pacheco and Rep. Sean Garballey

Status:
S.1110 – Hearing scheduled for 4/09/2019

S.263/H.410

An Act Relative to Healthy Youth

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Sal DiDomineco and Reps. James O’Day and Paul Brodeur

Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Education on 1/22/2019

S.24/H.1478

An Act to End Child Marriage in Massachusetts

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Harriette Chandler and Rep. Kay Khan

Status:
S.24 – Hearing scheduled for 4/09/2019; H.1478 Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary on 1/22/2019

S.834/H.3332

An Act to Protect Girls from Genital Mutilation

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Joseph Boncore and Reps. Natalie Higgins and Jay Livingstone

Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary 1/22/2019

S.1274/H.1959

An Act to Increase Access to Disposable Menstrual Products in Prisons, Homeless Shelters, and Public Schools

Lead Sponsors:
Sen. Patricia Jehlen and Reps. Jay Livingstone and Christine Barber

Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Public Health 1/22/2019