Bill Text: MS SB2559 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Bill 2559 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: MS Commission on the Status of Women; revise responsibilities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [SB2559 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2012-SB2559-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Dawkins

Senate Bill 2559

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-59-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE AND REVISE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 43-59-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-59-7. (1) The commission shall study issues affecting the status of women in Mississippi, including, but not limited to, the following areas:

(a) Women's educational and employment problems, needs and opportunities;

(b) Women's health issues;

(d) Current or proposed state laws, practices or conditions in regard to the civil, economic and political rights of women, including, but not limited to, pensions, tax requirements, property rights, marriage and dissolution of marriage provisions, domestic violence and other matters affecting the status of women;

(e) Inequitable pay gaps between men and women and recommendations on how to reduce such differences;

(f) Re-evaluation of current child support guidelines as part of the goal of reducing the poverty rate among women, and recommendations on the revision of said child support guidelines;

(g) Survey the representation of women on state boards and commissions and recommendations on improving representation on women in state agencies administrative workforce; and

(h) Any other conditions or practices affecting women which impose special limitations or burdens upon them or which tend to limit opportunities available to women.

(2) The commission shall develop annual statistics on how many women are employed in administrative, executive and clerical positions in state agencies. All agencies of state government shall cooperate with the commission in supplying information to develop these annual statistics.

(3) The Office of Secretary of State shall develop an online data base of the number of women holding elected office in the state and the number of women serving on Mississippi boards and commissions and shall update this website on a monthly basis. The commission shall utilize this website in making recommendations to the Legislature on women in the workplace.

(4) The commission shall act as an information center on the status of women and women's educational, employment and other related needs, and on current and proposed legislation affecting women. In this capacity, the commission shall serve as a liaison and clearinghouse between government, private interest groups and the general public concerned with services for women, and in this regard, the commission may publish a periodic newsletter, maintain a website and communicate with and provide information in other ways to these constituencies.

(5) The commission shall educate the business, education, state government and local government communities and the general public about the nature and scope of gender discrimination, violence against women, and other matters affecting the status of women in Mississippi.

(6) The commission shall recommend policies and make recommendations to public and private groups and persons concerned with any issue related to improving the status of women. Toward this end, the commission may develop, prepare and coordinate materials, projects or other activities and give technical and consultative advice. The commission may encourage and help women's organizations, public and private offices and other groups to institute self-help activities designed to meet women's educational, employment and other needs.

(7) The commission shall promote consideration of qualified women for all levels of government positions.

(8) Before November 15 of each year, beginning with November 15, 2002, the commission shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on the commission's activities. The report must include the results of the commission's findings of the preceding year, with recommendations for the removal of such injustices as the commission may find to exist. Beginning with November 2012, the commission shall include in its annual report a survey and recommendations on the issues added in subsection (1)(e), (f) and (g) of this section with any recommended legislation to address these issues.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.