Bill Text: NY A06567 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-05 - referred to governmental operations [A06567 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-A06567-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          6567

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                     March 19, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M. of A. NIOU -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Governmental Operations

        AN ACT to establish the Marshall plan for moms task force; and providing
          for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

          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-
    23  dren under 18, even though mothers face a greater pay gap than women  as
    24  a  whole.  Even  prior  to the pandemic, working mothers faced continued

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10250-01-1
        A. 6567                             2

     1  biases and stigmas in the  workplace  that  caregiving  responsibilities
     2  will negatively impact their work performance.
     3    Women  have  suffered  the  majority  of  pandemic-related job losses.
     4  Since February 2020, women have lost over 5,400,000 net jobs and account
     5  for 55% of overall net job loss since the beginning of the crisis. Women
     6  of color are experiencing higher rates of job  loss  than  White  women.
     7  According  to  the  Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2021 unemployment
     8  data, the jobless rate for Black women and Latina women aged 20 and over
     9  is over 60%  higher  than  their  White  counterparts.  Asian  Americans
    10  recorded  the  highest jobless rates among women in the last 6 months of
    11  2020, even though before the pandemic their  average  unemployment  rate
    12  was the lowest.
    13    Women  face  a disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities.
    14  Mothers are three times more likely than fathers to be  responsible  for
    15  most  of  the  caregiving  and household work.   Single mothers are more
    16  likely than other parents to take care of all  housework  and  childcare
    17  responsibilities  in  their  household,  and  are more likely than other
    18  mothers to experience financial insecurity.
    19    Throughout the pandemic, women of color have played integral roles  on
    20  the  frontlines  as  essential workers, including as nursing assistants,
    21  home health aides, and child care educators.
    22    Childcare is a critical lifeline for working mothers.    Three-fourths
    23  of  mothers  with  children  under 10 say child care is one of their top
    24  three challenges during COVID-19.  Throughout the pandemic, many parents
    25  have had to provide remote learning support to their  children.  80%  of
    26  mothers  with  children under the age of 12 have reported that they take
    27  the lead on supervising their  children  with  remote  learning.  School
    28  closures  have had a disproportionate impact on women, many of whom have
    29  had to reduce their work hours, take a  leave  absence,  or  permanently
    30  leave the workforce. Paid leaves helps women and other caregivers remain
    31  in the workforce and supports both public health and economic recovery.
    32    The  unprecedented  burdens  of  child care, work, and remote learning
    33  have strained mental and emotional health for mothers. These  points  of
    34  stressor  are  compounded  by  financial  instability, racial injustice,
    35  being a single parent, having children  with  special  needs,  and  many
    36  other factors.
    37    §  2.  The  department  of labor is hereby authorized to establish the
    38  Marshall plan for moms task force to examine the following policy  areas
    39  and issue proposals and recommendations thereon:
    40    1. The viability and implementation of providing recurring direct cash
    41  payments to moms and other caregivers.
    42    2.  Implementation  of a comprehensive paid family leave policy in the
    43  state for all employers.
    44    3. Rebuilding and stabilizing the  childcare  industry  in  the  state
    45  which addresses the lack of care infrastructure and child care deserts.
    46    4. How to best revitalize and restore the role of mothers in the work-
    47  force through the COVID-19 pandemic and following recovery.
    48    5.  How  to  ensure  immigrant  families  have  the  ability to access
    49  resources and support.
    50    6. Solutions for the lack of family-supportive workplaces.
    51    7. Expanding unemployment access to support New Yorkers  who  have  to
    52  leave a job or work reduced hours in order to take on caregiving respon-
    53  sibilities.
    54    8.  Access  to mental health support for mothers and other caregivers,
    55  which is essential to maintaining the health of the family.
    56    § 3. The task force shall be comprised of:
        A. 6567                             3

     1    1. The commissioner of labor, the commissioner of social services, and
     2  the chairperson of the workers' compensation board of the state  of  New
     3  York, or the designees of such commissioners or such chairperson.
     4    2. Two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate.
     5    3. Two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
     6    4. One member appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
     7    5. One member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
     8    §  4. Within six months of the effective date of this act, in carrying
     9  out its functions, the task force shall hold five public hearings around
    10  the state to foster discussions among, and conduct formal  public  hear-
    11  ings  with  requisite public notice to solicit input and recommendations
    12  from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. The task force  shall
    13  also accept public input in writing.
    14    §  5. Within one year of the effective date of this act the task force
    15  shall report its findings  and  recommendations  to  the  governor,  the
    16  temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
    17    §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
    18  deemed repealed 2 years after such date.