Bill Text: NY S05488 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes the Marshall plan for moms interagency task force to examine, issue proposals and make recommendations on multiple policy areas to address the disproportionate burden mothers have weathered from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-01-05 - REFERRED TO LABOR [S05488 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-S05488-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5488--A 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 9, 2021 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BIAGGI, GOUNARDES, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to establish the Marshall plan for moms interagency task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there- of The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The Legislature finds that any relief 2 and long-term recovery from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandem- 3 ic must recognize the disproportionate burden mothers have weathered. 4 Women, especially mothers, have faced the brunt of the economic chal- 5 lenges of the pandemic due to social barriers and policy failures that 6 have been compounded by enduring racism and gender injustices, including 7 the lack of care infrastructure, lack of family-supportive workplaces, 8 and gender and racial pay inequities. 9 Women continue to face unjust gender and racial wage gaps, and are 10 overrepresented in low-wage jobs, despite their gains in workforce 11 participation. Asian-American and Pacific Islander women, particularly 12 Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander women, get paid as little as $.50 13 for every dollar a White man makes. Black women make only $0.63 for 14 every dollar a White man makes, and as a result may lose $946,000 in 15 their lifetimes. Latina women earn $0.55 for every dollar earned by a 16 White man, and as a result may lose over $1,100,000 in wages over the 17 course of a 40-year career. Native American women are paid $0.60 for 18 every dollar a White man makes and are murdered at 10 times the rate of 19 the national average, even though financial independence and security 20 can increase chances of escaping violence for these women. Women's wages 21 are key to their families' economic security and survival. Across the 22 country, mothers are breadwinners in almost half of families with chil- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD10250-02-1S. 5488--A 2 1 dren under 18, even though mothers face a greater pay gap than women as 2 a whole. Even prior to the pandemic, working mothers faced continued 3 biases and stigmas in the workplace that caregiving responsibilities 4 will negatively impact their work performance. 5 Women have suffered the majority of pandemic-related job losses. 6 Since February 2020, women have lost over 5,400,000 net jobs and account 7 for 55% of overall net job loss since the beginning of the crisis. Women 8 of color are experiencing higher rates of job loss than White women. 9 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2021 unemployment 10 data, the jobless rate for Black women and Latina women aged 20 and over 11 is over 60% higher than their White counterparts. Asian Americans 12 recorded the highest jobless rates among women in the last 6 months of 13 2020, even though before the pandemic their average unemployment rate 14 was the lowest. 15 Women face a disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities. 16 Mothers are three times more likely than fathers to be responsible for 17 most of the caregiving and household work. Single mothers are more 18 likely than other parents to take care of all housework and childcare 19 responsibilities in their household, and are more likely than other 20 mothers to experience financial insecurity. 21 Throughout the pandemic, women of color have played integral roles on 22 the frontlines as essential workers, including as nursing assistants, 23 home health aides, and child care educators. 24 The unprecedented burdens of child care, work, and remote learning 25 have strained mental and emotional health for mothers. These points of 26 stressor are compounded by financial instability, racial injustice, 27 being a single parent, having children with special needs, and many 28 other factors. 29 § 2. 1. There is hereby established an interagency task force hereby 30 known as the Marshall plan for moms intergency task force which shall 31 consist of the following members or their designees: (a) the commission- 32 er of the department of labor, who shall serve as chair; (b) the commis- 33 sioner of the department of social services; (c) the chair of the work- 34 ers' compensation board; (d) the commissioner of the department of 35 health; (e) the director of the division of human rights; (f) two 36 members, who shall be appointed by the governor, one upon the recommen- 37 dation of the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress 38 of Industrial Organizations and one upon the recommendation of the New 39 York State Business Council; (g) one member, who shall be appointed by 40 the speaker of the assembly; and (h) one member, who shall be appointed 41 by the temporary president of the senate. 42 2. The interagency task force shall meet as often as is necessary, but 43 no less than once per month and where otherwise appropriate to fulfill- 44 ing its duties under this chapter. The members of the commission shall 45 serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for 46 all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. 47 § 3. The Marshall plan for moms interagency task force shall examine 48 the following policy areas and issue proposals and recommendations ther- 49 eon: 50 1. The utilization of recurring payments or financial assistance to 51 mothers and other caregivers and any equivalent policies under all 52 current state and federal programs. 53 2. The current utilization rates and impacts of the state paid family 54 leave program as well as specific impacts of the program on mothers and 55 other caregivers.S. 5488--A 3 1 3. Current state policy impacting the childcare industry and the 2 access or availability of child care in all areas of the state. 3 4. The availability and access to unemployment for New Yorkers who 4 have left a job or worked reduced hours in order to take on caregiving 5 responsibilities. 6 5. The impact of any new policies imposed by the federal government or 7 by state or local officials during the COVID-19 pandemic that have 8 impacted mothers and other caregivers in the workforce. 9 6. The availability and access to mental health support for mothers 10 and other caregivers, and the impact of access or availability to mental 11 health support on such families. 12 7. The access and availability of all such programs for immigrant 13 families, and the impact of inaccessibility or unavailability of any 14 such programs on immigrant families and the state. 15 8. Any other areas the task force deems relevant in the review of 16 policies that may impact mothers and other caregivers. 17 § 4. Within one year of the effective date of this act, in carrying 18 out its functions, the task force shall hold five public hearings around 19 the state to foster discussions among, and conduct formal public hear- 20 ings with requisite public notice to solicit input and recommendations 21 from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. The task force shall 22 also accept public input in writing. The task force may utilize remote 23 access such as web conferencing in order to comply with the provisions 24 of this section. 25 § 5. Within two years of the effective date of this act the task force 26 shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the 27 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, and 28 shall publicize its findings on a website provided by the department of 29 labor. 30 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 31 deemed repealed 3 years after such date.
