The Peru Gazette

From the office of State Senator Betty Little

The New York State Senate passed an historic package of bills today
that would ensure equal pay for women, strengthen laws against human
trafficking, provide greater support and protection for victims of domestic
violence, stop sexual harassment, and end discrimination of women in the
workplace related to gender, pregnancy, and family status.

“This is a landmark package of bills that will benefit millions of
women in New York by providing far stronger legal protections against
sexual harassment, discrimination and domestic violence,” Senate Majority
Coalition Co-Leader Dean Skelos said.  “The measures also remove obstacles
that have prevented women from being treated fairly and equally in the
workplace and, by doing so, will lead to greater job opportunities and
economic success for women across New York.”

Senator Elizabeth Little (R-C-I, Queensbury) said:  “Just a couple of
days ago, the Senate and Assembly passed a wonderful legislative resolution
celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ‘Spirit of 1776’ wagon to
commemorate the women’s suffrage movement. A lot has changed for the better
since those days before women had the right to vote, but it’s clear to me
and every other legislator supporting these important measures that work
remains.  We need to do more to ensure fairness for women and to prepare
the way for the next generation, and we can accomplish that with the
passage and enactment of these bills.”

Senator Patty Ritchie (R-C, Heuvelton) said: “As a woman, I have seen
examples of discrimination, harassment and abuse, and known too many women
who have been held back from their deserved places in the workplace and in
our society at large. This package of bills will help tear down walls and
create a level playing field for women in the workplace, protect women from
becoming victims of exploitation, and create more and equal opportunities
so that every woman, mother and daughter can have a chance to share in the
rewards and success that come from being equal partners in our society.”

Senator Kathleen Marchione (R-C, Halfmoon) said: “Women in New York
deserve fairness, equality and opportunity. For all the progress we have
made, many challenges remain. Women still face an unequal workplace – while
having to balance the challenges and pressures of building a career and
being the primary caregivers, health care providers and household CEOs. I
strongly support the provisions of the Women’s Equality Act that will
eliminate wage discrimination, stop sexual harassment in the workplace,
strengthen laws against human trafficking, end pregnancy discrimination and
protect victims of domestic violence. All of these items are goals that I
support as key elements of a women’s agenda because they will improve the
quality of life for all women.”

Senator Catharine Young (R-I-C, Olean) said: “That loud sound you
hear is women across New York State cheering. Ensuring equal pay at the
workplace, strengthening anti-discrimination laws, and protecting domestic
violence victims are real issues that I hear about from people in my
district every day. Women will have many more opportunities for success,
and our daughters and granddaughters will have brighter futures and achieve
great things because of this landmark legislation.”

Legislation passed by the Senate includes bills that:

Ensure Pay Equity — S5872, sponsored by Senator Diane Savino (D-Staten
Island) –This bill will ensure that women receive the wages they are
entitled to by prohibiting employers from paying employees disparate
amounts due to gender.

Prohibit Sexual Harassment in the Workplace — S5873, Senator David Valesky
(D-Oneida) – This bill would ensure that all employees are protected from
sexual harassment by ensuring that existing protections apply to businesses
of all sizes.

Remove Barriers to Remedying Discrimination — S5874, Senator Elizabeth
Little (R-C-I, Queensbury) –This legislation would allow successful parties
in employment or credit discrimination cases based on sex to recover
attorney’s fees. Approximately 77 percent of sex-based employment
discrimination cases filed with New York State are filed by women.

Prohibit Family Status Discrimination — S5875, Senator Elizabeth Little
(R-C-I, Queensbury) —  This bill would prohibit employers from denying
work or promotions to workers because they have children.  Existing law
only prohibits discrimination based on familial status in credit and
housing, but not employment — which can have a negative impact on women
with children.

Stop Housing Discrimination — S5876, Senator Joseph Robach (R-C-I,
Rochester) – This bill will protect victims of domestic violence from
housing discrimination and establishes a task force to study the impact of
a source of income, such as housing vouchers, on access to housing.

Senator Joseph Robach (R-C-I, Rochester) said: “Homelessness  among
women who are victims of domestic  violence is a significant problem, which
can prevent them from stabilizing their lives and the lives of their
children. Discrimination is a major barrier to battered women looking for
alternative housing.  This bill will ensure that victims are protected, not
punished, for being subjected to the suffering that results from domestic
violence.”

Strengthen Orders of Protection — S5877, Senator Cathy Young (R-I-C,
Olean) –This bill makes clear that a victim of domestic violence who has
an order of protection against her abuser cannot be accused of violating
the order. Currently, domestic violence victims face too many obstacles in
securing much needed protection from their abusers. This bill would remove
many of those obstacles, and ensure that domestic violence victims get the
protection they need.

Allow for Electronic Filing for Orders of Protection — S5878, Senator
Cathy Young (R-I-C, Olean) — The legislation creates a pilot program to
allow domestic violence victims to seek temporary orders of protection
through electronic means rather than having to appear in person. The bill
also requires the Office of Court Administration review and update their
policies and services for all crime victims in the courts to make sure that
their needs are being met, and so that victims are truly protected.

Toughen Human Trafficking Laws — S5879, Senator Andrew Lanza (R-C-I,
Staten Island) — This bill strengthens the state’s human trafficking laws
to ensure more effective enforcement and prosecution and to give additional
protections to victims.  Among other things, the bill will change age
provisions to mirror sex offense statutes and treat prostitution and sex
trafficking involving minors as sex offenses; increase criminal penalties
for trafficking, particularly when the crime victim is a minor; and create
an affirmative defense in prostitution prosecutions if the defendant was a
sex trafficking victim.”

Senator Lanza said: “This bill is a much-needed measure to protect
those people in New York State who are particularly vulnerable. Sex
traffickers must be held accountable for their heinous acts and this bill
would ensure that our justice system has the tools to prosecute them,
convict them, and send them to prison.”

End Pregnancy Discrimination – S5880, Senator Kemp Hannon (R-C-I, Garden
City) – This legislation requires employers to provide reasonable
accommodations to employees with pregnancy-related medical conditions.

Senator Hannon, Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, said: “It is
shocking to see many pregnant women still being denied equal treatment in
the workplace. Pregnant women are all too often forced to choose between
their health and their job, when both could be maintained with modest
adjustments, such as extra bathroom breaks, water breaks, and sitting
rather than standing. This legislation will ensure employers provide the
same reasonable accommodations to women with verifiable pregnancy-related
conditions as they do for other individuals in need of reasonable
accommodations.”

The bills were sent to the Assembly.