Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz today announced the 2020 legislative agenda of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, the working group created last year by Governor Lamont and chaired by Lt. Governor Bysiewicz that has been tasked with creating a coordinated state response to issues that impact the lives of women, girls, their families, and the State of Connecticut. The council has been focusing its work on four areas of impact: education and STEAM; economic opportunity and workforce equity; leadership; and health and safety.
“The laws, regulations, and policies in government need to reflect the voices of the many women and girls who should have greater representation in how our state and nation operate,” said Governor Lamont. “I’m proud that we launched Connecticut’s first-ever Council on Women and Girls to deliver on our administration’s commitment to gender equality and opportunity. From proposals to increase access to safe, affordable childcare to breaking down barriers for running for office, the council has really embraced the mission they were formed to pursue. I thank each of the members for their work, and stress that this is just one step of many that the council will continue to pursue over the coming years.”
“I’m very proud of the creative and thoughtful legislative agenda our council has developed in order to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities for success in Connecticut,” said Lt. Governor Bysiewicz. “The partnerships between the council members and our steering committee makes addressing council priorities a true statewide effort. Each of these proposals covers one of the four impact areas of our council I look forward to working with our legislative partners to advance women and families across our state.”
“It has been an honor to serve on the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls with Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz and move forward with these important initiatives to increase opportunity in this great state,” Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, who serves as vice chair of the council, said. “The council has celebrated the incredible social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women, while simultaneously pushing for greater progress in gender equality, and this legislative agenda is reflective of our efforts. As women from all backgrounds are given the chance to succeed and have their voices heard, our state will be stronger and more inclusive.”
The council is supporting adoption of the following bills:
- An Act Permitting The Use Of Citizens’ Election Program Grant Funds To Offset A Participating Candidate’s Childcare Costs (Governor’s Bill/SB 14) – After the State Elections Enforcement Commission determined that child care expenses are not eligible for reimbursement under the Citizen’s Election Program (CEP), Governor Lamont proposed legislation allowing CEP candidates to be reimbursed for such costs. Under the bill, candidates in the program would be reimbursed for childcare services for any child under the age of 13 for whom the candidate is a primary caregiver. The requirement for such services must not exist but for the candidate’s need to campaign.
- An Act Concerning Protections for Group and Family Child Care Homes (HB 5121) – As submitted by All Our Kin, this legislation aims to clarify, enforce, and expand housing and zoning protections for licensed group childcare and family childcare homes in order to provide women and families desperately needed licensed affordable in-home options. Home-based childcare programs are critically important to Connecticut’s economy and the economic wellbeing of many women and families. These programs may afford greater opportunity for parents to participate in the workforce and financially support their families.
- An Act Deterring Age Discrimination in Employment Applications (SB 85) – This bill will prohibit employers from asking the age, date of birth or graduation dates of job applicants, unless a particular age is a bona fide occupational qualification. The Department of Administrative Services has already made adjustments of this kind of applications for employment with the State of Connecticut. AARP noted in its submission to the Council on Women and Girls that women are particularly affected by age discrimination.The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2024, women over 65 will make up roughly the same percentage of the female workforce as older men do of the male workforce, countering earlier trends of older women not participating in the workforce. Following the Great Recession, many older women rejoined – or sought to rejoin – the workforce in order to help their families make up for income lost during the economic downturn. Furthermore, the baby boomer generation has faced skyrocketing college tuition costs for their children and are living longer – necessitating larger retirement funds.
- Removing Childcare Barriers/Creating Pilot Incubator Program – As proposed in the submission from YWCA Hartford, enacting the language of Senate Bill 930 from the 2019 legislative session will develop safe childcare options for families, assist more women in maintaining employment and encourage entrepreneurship for women.YWCA Hartford noted that there is insufficient affordable childcare across the state and a lack of options for some families, forcing them to leave their children in unsafe environments with untrained providers, and that there is a need to be culturally responsive to the desire of some families to have childcare provided by a family member or someone in the community. Family care options can benefit children that might thrive in a smaller, more intimate setting. The proposal is for an early childhood incubator model of independent childcare providers co-located in a space approved for childcare, which would include training and coaching on childcare best practices and access to business and administrative support. Current licensing laws do not allow for this model or design. According to YWCA’s proposal, there is intent by families and family day care centers as well as a group of childcare providers who are beginning to develop this concept.
- Increasing Rights for Domestic Workers – Raised by the Labor Committee, the Council on Women and Girls is supporting language that mirrors House Bill 6931 from the 2019 legislative session, which sought to establish new protections for domestic workers by requiring that employers make more information about domestic workers’ working conditions available to the worker at the time of hiring, limits the number of consecutive days of work a domestic worker is expected to perform, limits an employer’s ability to monitor an off-duty domestic worker, protects domestic workers from employer retaliation, and allows domestic workers to bring actions regarding alleged employer violations to Superior Court.
- Expanding U-Pass Program to All State and Private Colleges/Universities – The Department of Transportation has proposed expanding a program that offers students at public colleges discounted bus passes to pupils at private higher-education institutions. The UPass program was established in 2017, and so far students and professors at public colleges have taken approximately four million trips on public transportation using the passes, which cost $20 per semester. Currently, the program is only available at UConn and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.
In addition to Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Secretary McCaw, membership of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls includes every state agency commissioner; designees of each of the four legislative caucuses; and designees of each of the constitutional officers.