January 10th: Here's what happened this week at the Indiana Statehouse
In 2019, we started our weekly legislative blog to help keep track of our work at the Statehouse. We are continuing this blog as we enter the 2020 legislative session. This short session will likely end in Mid-March.
Women4Change 2020 legislative priorities:
Women's Economic Stability
Hoosier women, on average, make 74 cents for a man’s dollar. W4C will work to strengthen women’s economic stability by advocating for paid family leave and wider access to childcare.
What bills are we monitoring?
Senate Bill 176: Minimum wage
Establishes new minimum wages, effective June 2021
House Bill 1162: Wage history & salary range inquiries
Dictates rules about the hiring process, including prohibiting employers from considering potential employees’ wage histories
Allows the Department of Labor to investigate violations of aforementioned hiring rules
Senate Bill 34: Paid employee leave
Recommends that a legislative council assigns an interim committee to study paid personal leave for employees
Maternal & Infant Mortality and Women's Health
Indiana ranks 46th in the nation for our maternal mortality rate. W4C will advocate for policies, such as increased public health funding and expanded access to birth control, that promote women’s reproductive health.
What bills are we monitoring?
House Bill 1141: Birth control prescriptions
Establishes, with specific requirements, that pharmacists can prescribe and distribute hormonal contraceptives
Determines that health plans must provide coverage for contraceptives and certain services (with an except for religious nonprofit employers)
House Bill 1248: Postpartum Medicaid for pregnant women
Calls for Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women through pregnancy and for the following year (beginning on the last day of pregnancy), regardless of a family’s income changes
Sexual Harassment and Consent
W4C will stand with victims of sexual harassment and assault by advocating for relevant state legislation. We believe that establishing a state-wide definition of consent is the first step in battling rape culture and developing legal protections for survivors. We support several pieces of proposed state legislation, including a more specific definition of sexual harassment.
What bills are we monitoring?
Senate Bill 146: Sexual assault victims’ rights
Provides rights to victims of sexual assault, including:
A sexual assault counselor would be present during forensic medical exams and interviews with law enforcement officers & attorneys
The collection and analysis of sexual assault forensic evidence
Senate Bill 175: Prevention of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking
Establishes requirements for postsecondary educational institutions, including:
A comprehensive policy on sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking
The designation of confidential advisors to support students who are victims of sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking
Develop a taskforce or join an existing taskforce to coordinate in preventing issues such as sexual violence
Senate Bill 116: Human trafficking
Removes requirement that payment for human trafficking goes to a third party
Increases the penalty for human trafficking if the victim is a minor
The belief that the victim is at least 18 is not a defense to a prosecution; an exchange of consent from the human trafficking is also not a defense
House Bill 1160: Consent
Defines “consent” for sex crime offenses
Pursuing sex without consent is rape
Determines that intentionally false pretenses about the identity of the person engaging in sex is considered rape
House Bill 1161: Sexual battery
Resolves that an act is considered sexual battery when one person touches another person’s breasts, buttocks, genitals or pubic area for sexual pleasure without consent
House Bill 1270: Lewd touching
Outlines the definition of lewd touching, which includes intentionally fondling another person’s genitalia, buttocks or breasts without consent
Refers to lewd touching as a Class A misdemeanor
Certain circumstances, such as the added use of threats and/or weapons, require a harsher penalty for lewd touching
House Bill 1271: Removal of elected officials
Establishes that, in the context of expulsion from the general assembly, sexual misconduct and sex crimes are considered disorderly conduct
Calls for an officeholder oversight commission to oversee the removal of state officeholder
Outlines reasons for an increased penalty in the case of lewd touching
Sex Education
W4C believes that medically accurate, culturally appropriate sex education can play a vital role in mitigating domestic violence and sexual assault. In order to reach more students, these programs should maintain their current opt-out options. We will advocate against changing the state statute from opt-out to opt-in.
Fair Voting/Voter Access
W4C will strive to make voting in Indiana a more fair and equitable process. We will work to put an end to the current practice of establishing districts, which generates non-competitive districts and low voter turnout. We will continue to voice support for independent review commissions for Indiana districts.
What bills are we monitoring?
House Bill 1221: Poll hours
Dictates that polls would stay open until 8pm instead of 6pm
To change a vote center plan, only a majority of the county election board would have to be present (currently, the law requires a unanimous vote)
If you can not attend a meeting at the Statehouse during the legislative session consider attending these community meetings.
Hamilton County legislators will serve on a Legislative Breakfast panel Friday, January 10. They will discuss legislation that impacts the business community. The event will take place at 7:30am at Conner Prairie: https://web.onezonecommerce.com/events/January-Legislative-Breakfast-2020-Legislative-Preview-3980/details
The League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana will host a “Meet your Legislators” event Saturday, January 11. Doors will open at 9am at the Evansville Central Library: https://my.lwv.org/indiana/southwestern-indiana/event/meet-your-legislators
Keep up with our work this session! Check back here for our legislative blog and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter