Category: Public Policy and Advocacy

Legislative Report 2022

Informe Legislativo 2022

Paid Sick Days Fact Sheet

2022 Legislative Session Testimony:

• S.B. 407 An Act Concerning the Development and Implementation of a Post COVID-19 Women’s Return to Economic Development Plan 
• H.B. 5403: An Act Establishing A Child Tax Credit Against The Personal Income Tax; S.B. 383: An Act Increasing The Applicable Percentage Of The Earned Income Tax Credit; S.B. 380: An Act Concerning a Study of State Tax Policies; S.B. 381: An Act Concerning a Study of State Revenue Collections; S.B. 382: An Act Concerning a Connecticut New Market Tax Credit Program; H.B. 5406: An Act Concerning a Study of State Revenue Policies; H.B. 5407: An Act Concerning Study of State Fiscal Policies
• S.B. 294: An Act Concerning Housing Protections For Victims of Family Violence
• S.B. 250: An Act Concerning Student Loan Debt Reimbursement For Connecticut Residents Who Graduated From A State University
• H.B. 5278 An Act Prohibiting Unauthorized Intimate Examination On A Patient Who Is Under Deep Sedation or Anesthesia or Unconscious
• H.B. 5355 An Act Concerning Sexual Violence Posting In The Workplace
• H.B 5208 An Act Concerning Housing Opportunities For Justice-Impacted Persons; H.B 5233 An Act Concerning Evictions For Cause
• HB 5130 An Act Concerning Student Loan Forgiveness For Nonprofit Employees
• H.B.5303: An Act Concerning Continuing Medical Education Requirements Concerning Endometriosis and Cultural Competency and the Creation of a Plan for an Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program
• H.B.5272: An Act Concerning Menstrual Products
• H.B. 5249: An Act Concerning Non-Compete Agreements; H.B. 5246: An Act Extending Recall Rights of Certain Laid Off Employees; H.B. 5252: An Act Concerning Employees S.B. 221: An Act Concerning Working Conditions
• S.B. 284: An Act Increasing the Age from Eight to Eighteen Years for an Income-Eligible Person to Obtain Medical Assistance Regardless of Immigration Status
• H.B. 5356: An Act Concerning Pandemic Pay for Essential Workers
• S.B. 21: AAC A State-Wide Property Tax On Certain Residential Real Property, S.B 28: AA Establishing A Capital Gain Surcharge, S.B. 29: AAC The Earned Income Tax Credit
• S.B. 2: An Act Expanding Preschool and Mental and Behavioral Services for Children
• H.B. 5472: An Act Concerning Sexual Assault and the Absence of Consent
• H.B. 5414: An Act Concerning Protections for Persons Receiving and Providing Reproductive Health Care Services in the State; H.B. 5483: An Act Concerning Deceptive Advertising Practices of Pregnancy Services Centers
• S.B. 5: An Act Concerning Online Dating Operators, Online Child Grooming and Harassment, Domestic Violence Training and Protections for Victims of Family Violence and Domestic Violence
• H.B. 5261: An Act Increasing Access to Reproductive Health Care
• S.B. 163: An Act Protecting Employee Freedom of Speech and Conscience
• S.B. 197: An Act Concerning Temporary Family Assistance; H.B. 5226: An Act Limiting State Recovery of Public Assistance Payments
• S.B. 291: An Act Concerning Certain Protections For Group And Family Child Care Homes
• S.B. 189: An Act Prohibiting Sex or Gender-Based Differential Pricing for Substantially Similar Goods or Services
• S.B. 111: An Act Concerning Funding for Child Care Programs
• H.B. 5353: An Act Concerning a Fair Work Week Schedule
• S.B. 312: An Act Concerning the Expansion of Connecticut Paid Sick Days
• S.B. 318: An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings
• S.B. 422: An Act Concerning the Essential Workers COVID-19 Assistance Program
• H.B. 5465: An Act Increasing Early Childhood Educator Salaries and Expanding Child Care Opportunities for families; S.B. 1: An Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services
• H.B. 5437: An Act Concerning Equity and the Governor’s Budget
• S.B. 471: An Act Concerning Elections and State Voting Rights
• S.J. No. 30: Resolution Proposing a State Constitutional Amendment to Recognize a Right of Personal Reproductive Autonomy and Freedom
• H.B. 5500: An Act Concerning The Department of Public Health’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions To The Public Health Statutes; S.B. 476: An Act Concerning The Of ice of Health Strategy’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions To Community Benefits Programs Administered By Hospitals

2019 Legislative Session Testimony

• H.B. 6924: An Act Prohibiting On-Call Shift Scheduling
• H.B. 6931: An Act Concerning Domestic Workers
• H.B. 7043: An Act Concerning Breastfeeding in the Workplace
• H.B. 7044: An Act Concerning Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
• S.B. 2, H.B. 5004 and H.B. 7191: An Act Increasing the Minimum Fair Wage and An Act Increasing the Minimum Wage
• S.B. 764: An Act Prohibiting On-Call Shift Scheduling
• S.B. 1 and H.B. 5003: An Act Concerning Paid Family and Medical Leave and An Act Implementing a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
• S.B. 697: An Act Concerning Nondisclosure Agreements in the Workplace
• S.B. 765: An Act Ensuring Fair and Equal Pay for Equal Work
• S.B. 881: An Act Establishing a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
• S.B. 933 and S.B. 934: An Act Expanding Eligibility for Certain Families in the Care4Kids Program and An Act Expanding Eligibility in the Care4Kids Program to Parents Enrolled in Other Types of School
• H.B. 7095: An Act Concerning a Grandparent’s Right to Visitation with His or Her Grandchild
• H.B. 7222: An Act Concerning the Duties of the Office of the Attorney General
• S.B. 3: An Act Combating Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
• S.B. 992 and S.B. 948: An Act Concerning the Trust Act and An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Connecticut Sentencing Commission with Respect to Misdemeanor Sentences
• H.B. 7359: An Act Concerning a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Health and Human Services Network
• S.B. 837: An Act Concerning Medicaid Payment Rates for Nurse-Midwives
• S.B. 1078: An Act Concerning Doula Certification and Medicaid Reimbursement for Doula Services
• S.B. 977: An Act Concerning Explanations of Benefits
• S.B. 330 and H.B. 6093: An Act Establishing a Human Right to Equal Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Health and An Act Concerning Consideration of Immigration Status by Health Carriers
• H.B. 7070: An Act Concerning Deceptive Advertising Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers
• S.B. 533: An Act Concerning Access to Diaper Changing Stations in Public Buildings 
• H.B. 5407: An Act Establishing a Tax Credit for Employers that Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits and Medical Leave Accounts Program
• H.B. 7022: An Act Exempting Breastfeeding Supplies from the Sales and Use Taxes
• Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (BPRC) Forum

2020 Legislative Session Testimony

• Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act She Leads Justice Statement
• Statement on Benefit Cliffs
• S.B. 19: An Act Concerning Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses
• S.B. 85: An Act Concerning Age Discrimination in Employment Applications
• S.B. 87: An Act Concerning Eligibility for the Office of Early Childhood’s Child Care Subsidy Program for Victims of Domestic Violence
• H.B. 5005: An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2021 
• S.B. 227: An Act Concerning a Fair Work Week Schedule
• H.B. 5271: An Act Concerning Breastfeeding in the Workplace
• H.B. 5276 An Act Concerning Domestic Workers
• S.B. 140 An Act Requiring Free Feminine Hygiene Products in Middle and High School Student Bathrooms
• S.B. 157 An Act Concerning the Provision of Free Feminine Hygiene Products in Middle and High School Student Bathrooms
• H.B. 5251: An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study Health Insurance Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants in this State 
• H.B. 5270: An Act Concerning the Right of a Public Employee to Join of Support a Union 
• She Leads Justice Public Testimony – Black & Puerto Rican Caucus Forum 
• H.B. 5247: An Act Concerning Explanation of Benefits
• H.B. 5109: An Act Exempting Breastfeeding Supplies from the Sales and Use Taxes
• H.B. 5244: An Act Concerning Additional Housing Protections for a Victim of Family Violence or Sexual Assault 
• H.B. 5383: An Act Concerning The Disclosure Of Salary Range For A Vacant Position
• H.B. 5388: An Act Concerning a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN Act)

2021 Legislative Session Testimony

• H.B. 6187 and S.B. 821: An Act Concerning the Restructuring of Certain Taxes and Tax Equity
• H.B. 6343: An Act Ensuring Fair Employee Protections For Gig Workers
• H.B. 6374: An Act Concerning Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses
• H.B. 6478: An Act Concerning Workers’ Compensation
• H.B. 6380: An Act Concerning The Disclosure Of Salary Range For A Vacant Position
• H.B. 6389: An Act Concerning Explanations of Benefits
• H.B. 6416: An Act Concerning the Removal of Liens on the Property of Public Assistance Beneficiaries
• H.B. 6424: An Act Revising Data Collection Requirements for Health Care Providers Connecting to the State-wide Health Information Exchange 
• H.B. 6439: An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2023, and making Appropriations Therefor
• H.B. 6531: An Act Concerning the Right to Counsel in Eviction Proceedings and H.B. 6528: An Act Concerning The Sealing of Eviction Records 
• H.B. 6537: An Act Concerning Paid Sick Days Expansion and Domestic Worker Coverage
• H.B. 6595 and S.B. 1002: An Act Concerning Labor Matters Related to Covid-19, Personal Protective Equipment and Other Staffing Issues 
• S.B. 1: An Act Equalizing Comprehensive Access to Mental, Behavioral and Physical Health Care in Response to the Pandemic 
• S.B. 668: An Act Concerning A Fair Work Week Schedule 
• S.B. 835: An Act Concerning Deceptive Advertising Practices of Limited Services 
• S.B. 873: An Act Mitigating Adverse Tax Consequences Resulting From Employees Working Remotely During Covid-19, And Concerning The Removal Of Liens On The Property Of Public Assistance Beneficiaries And A Three-Tiered Grants In Lieu Of Taxes Program
• S.B. 906: An Act Concerning Non-Compete Agreements 
• S.B. 943: An Act Concerning Wage Education and Enforcement Relating to Domestic Workers
• S.B. 956: An Act Providing Medical Assistance to Certain Individuals Regardless of Immigration Status

2018 Legislative Session Testimony

• H.B. 5388:An Act Concerning A Fair Minimum Wage
• H.B. 5584: An Act Establishing a Tax Credit for Employers that Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits and Concerning Family and Medical Leave Accounts
• S.B. 132: An Act Combating Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault
• H.B. 5571: An Act Concerning Human Trafficking
• S.B. 13: An Act Concerning Fair Treatment of Incarcerated Women
• H.B. 5158: An Act Concerning Pregnant Patients Exercising Living Wills
• H.B. 5416: An Act Concerning Deceptive Advertising Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers
• S.B. 466: An Act Concerning Dual Arrests and the Training Required of Law Enforcement Personnel with Respect to Domestic Violence
• S.B. 237: An Act Establishing a Task Force to Evaluate Statutes of Limitations for Sexual Assault Crimes
• S.B. 238: An Act Concerning the Extension of the Statute of Limitations for the Prosecution of Sexual Assault
• H.B. 5246: An Act Eliminating the Statute of Limitations in the Case of Sexual Assault
• Governor’s Bill No. 5043: An Act Promoting a Fair, Civil and Harassment-Free Workplace
• S.B. 1: An Act Concerning Earned Family and Medical Leave
• H.B. 5387: An Act Concerning Paid Family Medical Leave
• S.B. 15: An Act Concerning Fair and Equal Pay for Equal Work
• H.B. 5386: An Act Concerning Various Pay Equity and Fairness Matters
• H.B. 5044: An Act Concerning Fair Treatment of Sick Workers
• S.B. 321: An Act Stabilizing Working Families by Limiting “On Call” Shift Scheduling
• H.B. 5134: An Act Concerning a Tax Credit for Businesses that Provide Paid Family and Medical Leave
• S.B. 17: An Act Promoting Fairness in Access to Information, Support and Justice for Sexual Assault Victims
• H.B. 5210: An Act Mandating Insurance Coverage of Essential Health Benefits and Expanding Mandated Health Benefits for Women, Children and Adolescents
• S.B. 206: An Act Authorizing Pregnancy as a Qualifying Event for Special Enrollment Periods for Certain Individuals

• 2023 Legislative Agenda
• Let’s Get Loud: Voter Guide to the 2022 Connecticut Election
• 2023 Paid Sick Days Fact Sheet 
• 2022 Community Action Toolkit
• Salary Range Transparency Fact Sheet
• Know the Facts: Paid Family and Medical Leave
• Paid Family and Medical Leave – Frequently Asked Questions
• Paid Leave Victory in CT! What Does it Mean for Me? – Webinar Recording

Recursos españoles

• Agenda Legislativa 2023
• ¡Hagamos Ruido! La Guía del Votante para las Elecciones del 2022 en Connecticut
• Días De Enfermedad Pagados
• Caja De Herramientas Para La Acción Comunitaria
• Conozca los Hechos: Licencia Familiar y Medica Pagada
• Conozca Sus Derechos en el Lugar de Trabajo Datos Breves de COVID-19
• Lincencia Familiar y Medica Remunerada – Preguntas Frecuentes

All workers deserve access to paid family and medical leave to recover from a serious illness, welcome a child, or care for a loved one. The Campaign for Paid Family Leave is a coalition led by She Leads Justice that advocated for the passage of one of the strongest paid leave laws in the nation in 2019 and is now focused on the implementation of Connecticut’s new paid leave program.

Amicus Briefs 

For the past thirty years, She Leads Justice has written and participated in amicus curiae briefs in order to ensure that women’s concerns are heard when laws are enacted or reformed. The following is annotated listing of those briefs related to family, education, civil rights and employment law.

Family Matters

Adoption
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• In re Adoption of Baby Z, 1999
• In re Adoption of CCG and ZCG, 2000
• In re Adoption of RBF and RCF, 2000

Custody/Visitation
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• Ireland v. Ireland, 1998
• State of Connecticut v. Anthony Vakilzaden, 1999
• Troxel v. Granville, 1999
• T.B. v. L.R.M., 2001

Child Support

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• Boris v. Blaisdell, 1985
• Bowen v. Gilliard, 1987

Divorce and Property Distribution – Pension Plans

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• Tirmenstein v. Tirmenstein, 1989
• Adams v. Adams, 1989
• Berrington v. Berrington, 1993
• Krafick v. Krafick, 1995

Equal Education for Girls and Women
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Athletics/Title IX
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• Cohen v. Brown University, 1996
• Klinger v. Department of Corrections, 1997
• Boucher v. Syracuse University, 1999
• Curetan v. NCAA, 1999
• Smith v. NCAA, 2001
• Brentwood Academy v. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, 2000
• Communities for Equity v. Michigan High School Athletic Association, 2003
• Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, 2005

 

Sexual Harassment (School)
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• Rowinsky v. Bryan Independent School District, 1996 (school – peer sexual harassment)
• Bruneau v. South Kortright School District, 1998 (school – employer liability)
• Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, 1999 (school – peer harassment)
• Murrell v. School District No. 1, 1999 (school – peer harassment)
• Reed v. Edelwich, 1996 (school – employer liability)
• Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 1998 (school – employer liability)
• Canty v. Old Rochester Regional School District, 1999 (school – § 1983 + Title IX)
• Gleason v. Board of Trustees of Salem State College, 2000 (school – § 1983 + Title IX)
• Litman v. George Mason University, 2004
• Simpson v. University of Colorado, 2007
• J.K. v. Arizona Board of Regents, 2008

Racial Discrimination

• PICS v. Seattle School District, 2007

Workplace Issues
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Employment Discrimination

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• Walters v. Metropolitan Educational Enterprises, Inc, 1996
• Bryan County v. Brown, 1997
• Atkinson v. Lafayette, 2006
• Burlington Northern v. White, 2006
• Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 2007

Sex Discrimination
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• Board of Directors of Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte, 1987
• United Auto Workers (UAW) v. Johnson Controls, 1991
• J.E.B. v. Alabama ex. rel. T.B., 1994
• State of Connecticut v. Walker, 1994
• Faulkner v. Jones (the Citadel case), 1995
• United States of America v. Virginia, 1995
• United States of America v. Virginia, 1996
• In re: Union Pacific Railroad Employment Practices Litigation, 2008

Sexual Harassment
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• Newsday, Inc. v. Long Island Typographical Union, No. 915, 1990
• Comments to Proposed Guidelines on Harassment Based on Race, Color, Religion, Gender, National Origin, Age, and Disability, 1993
• Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 1993
• Gary v. Long, 1995
• CHRO ex. rel. Bilodeau v. United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney, 1996
• Angelsea Productions v. Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, 1996
• Jenson v. Eleventh Taconite Co., 1997
• Keslar v. Bartu, 2000
• Brittell v. State of Connecticut Department of Corrections, 1998
• Oncale v. Sundowner, 1998
• Rocque v. Freedom of Information Commission, 2001
• Pollard v. DuPont, 2001

Discrimination – Pregnancy
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• In re Valerie D., 1992
• Ferguson v. City of Charleston, 2000

Family and Medical Leave Act

• Testimony and Comments to the Advisory Commission on     Intergovernmental Relations Regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act,     1996
• Hibbs v. Nevada Department of Human Resources, 2003

Discrimination
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Discrimination – Language Proficiency

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• Alexander v. Sandoval, 2000

Discrimination – Sexual Orientation
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• Steffan v. Aspin, 1994
• Romer v. Evans, 1996
• Thomas v. Anchorage, 2000
• CHRO/John-Jane Doe, 2000
• Boy Scouts of America v. Wyman, 2003
• Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health, 2007

Discrimination – Domestic Violence
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• Freedom of Information Commission v. Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, Inc., 1998
• Doe v. Doe, 1996
• Culberson v. Doan, 1998
• White v. El Gabri; Bentley v. El Gabri, 1998
• Tsitaridis v. Tsitaridis, 2007

Reproductive Health – Buffer Zones
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• Pro-Choice Network of Western New York v. Schenck, 1995
• Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York, 1997
• United States and Connecticut v. Scott, 1999
• Hill v. Colorado, 2000
• People of the State of New York v. Operation Rescue National, 2001
• McGuire v. Reilly, 2001

Reproductive Health – Other
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• Ohio v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health, 1989
• Hodgson v. Minnesota, 1989
• Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 1989
• Turner v. Ragsdale, 1989
• Rust v. Sullivan together with New York v. Sullivan, 1991
• Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 1992
• Winters v. Costco, 1995
• Hope v. Perales, 1995
• Letter to EEOC on Contraceptive Coverage, 1999
• Stenberg v. Carhart, 2000
• Bost v. Low-Income Women of Texas, 2002
• Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, 2006

Sexual Assault
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• United States v. Lanier, 1997
• Commonwealth v. Fischer, 1998
• Letter to the FBI regarding the definition of rape for purposes of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR), 2001
• In re Jonathan; Matthew G. v. State of Connecticut, 2002     Top of Page

Advocating for Women and Girls

She Leads Justice protects and promotes the rights of women and girls* by identifying and articulating the challenges they face and elevating their interests and voices through public policy and advocacy.

*Our work supports women and girls who identify as cisgender, transgender, and non-binary as well as people of all marginalized gender identities systemically and historically oppressed by those in power.

She Leads Justice’s Legal Education Program helps us to understand the significant needs of women and girls throughout the state. To achieve better opportunities for women, She Leads Justice leads policy coalitions, offers public testimony, and collaborates with community partners.

She Leads Justice fights gender discrimination and advances the rights, opportunities and status of women and girls, with a focus on:

• Economic Security and Success
• Access to Justice
• Workplace and Education Equity
• Freedom from Violence and Harassment
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Find our most recent agendas, toolkits and reports here:

• 2023 Legislative Agenda
• Agenda Legislativa 2023
• Let’s Get Loud: Voter Guide to the 2022 Connecticut Election
• ¡Hagamos Ruido! La Guía del Votante para las Elecciones del 2022 en Connecticut
• 2022 Candidate Guide to Women’s Economic Security 
• 2022 Legislative Report and Informe Legislativo 2022

As Chair of the Campaign for Paid Family Leave, She Leads Justice monitors the implementation of paid family and medical leave to ensure the program is transparent, user-friendly, and prioritizes the most underserved Connecticut residents.