Bill Text: NY S05488 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Amended

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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

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                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.
                                                                   LBD10250-02-1
        S. 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.