The AAUW Florida Public Policy Committee has selected five bills to support and one to oppose for the current session that began January 9. You may not read about these bills in the news, but they have been crafted to make the lives of women easier in Florida. Please make your legislators aware of them–scroll down for the bills and position papers you can download.
ERA Bills: SCR142/H647: The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in the same way it does for race or national origin. We need this protection now.
Pregnant Women in Custody: SB 100/HB 237: After a pregnancy test on their request, every arrested female would be allowed to petition for a postponement, but not a reprieve, of incarceration. Jail is no place for healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Paid Parental Leave for State Career Service Employees: SB 127/HB 128: This bill changes unpaid to paid leave for the over 80,000 employees of the State of Florida, who are paid an average of $56,500 per year.
Pregnancy Support and Wellness Services: SB 256/HB 343: This bill would improve the integrity of the state-supported, childbirth-only Pregnancy Support Centers by requiring that information presented be medically correct and requiring Department of Health inspections and annual audit reports.
AAUW Florida opposes bills aiming to enable employers to hire 16-year-olds without time or job restrictions (HB49/SB1596), because of the supreme importance of a good education in lifting people out of poverty.
The Freedom to Learn Act would repeal or amend many of the provisions of previously passed legislation prohibiting educational materials related to systemic racism and “identity polities”.
AAUW Advocacy in Florida 