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2011 Policy Agenda

2011 Policy Agenda. What is the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women?. Mission: Through responsive advocacy, the ICSW champions the success and wellbeing of women and girls in Iowa. Vision: Growing Iowa’s opportunities so that every woman and girl can reach her full potential.

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2011 Policy Agenda

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  1. 2011 Policy Agenda

  2. What is the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women? • Mission:Through responsive advocacy, the ICSW champions the success and wellbeing of women and girls in Iowa. • Vision:Growing Iowa’s opportunities so that every woman and girl can reach her full potential.

  3. What is the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women? • Seven citizen commissioners– gender and politically balanced—set the policies and strategic direction for advocacy for women and girls. • 2010 Reorg of Dept. of Human Rights • Office on the Status of Women: “Shall serve as the central permanent agency to advocate for women and girls.”

  4. 2008-2011 Strategic Goals • Girls in Iowa are safe, healthy, and prepared for success. • Women, girls and their allies are fully engaged with the ICSW vision. • Systems are in place to support and challenge women to reach their full potential and enhance Iowa’s future.

  5. Iowa Equal Pay Act– one of the nation’s toughest anti-discrimination laws (2nd state to pass) First-in-the nation state requirement that locally appointed boards and commissions be gender-balanced by 2012 Requirement that the Regents submit annual report about female and minority enrollment in science, tech, engineer., math (STEM) Enhanced state and federal funding for women’s reproductive health Enforcement of federal law prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing firearms Restoration of line item funding for victim services and child support recovery Recent Policy Achievements

  6. 2011 Policy Positions • Support for expansion of child care assistance eligibility guidelines to increase family economic security. • Support for a minimum state standard for paid sick days for employees to recover from their own illness or provide care for a sick family member. • Maintain or increase funding for critical services for women, such as sexual assault or domestic violence victim services, child support recovery, and work supports. • Support policy changes that enhance safety for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

  7. 2011 Policy Positions, Cont’d • Support for access to all reproductive health care options for women as currently available. • Support for the curtailment of restraints or shackles used by state correctional facilities, detention, or jails on pregnant inmates or pregnant juveniles during labor, delivery, or recovery. • Affirmation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the uniform laws clause of the Iowa Constitution– non-discrimination.

  8. Child Care Assistance

  9. Child Care Assistance • Protecting CCA funds to be used for child care– not other structural deficits • Raising the income eligibility from 145 percent to 200 percent FPL and introducing a more graduated copayment schedule

  10. Paid Sick Days • 570,000 Iowans—47 percent of Iowa workers—are not able to take a paid sick day when they are ill. • A minimum number of paid sick days would allow workers to contain illness when they are sick and not send children to school sick.

  11. Maintaining Critical Funding for Services • Domestic violence and sexual assault victim services • Child support recovery • Work supports, like child care assistance • Family planning services

  12. Policy changes to keep victims safer • SSB1011: Domestic abuse strangulation • Dating relationships included in domestic assault charge • Felony charge for DOC staff to have sex with an inmate

  13. Maintain existing reproductive rights • Family planning waiver • 8 anti-choice bills introduced so far

  14. Curtailment of Shackling Pregnant Inmates • A bill is expected that would reduce the use of shackles on pregnant inmates in state correctional facilities, jails, and juvenile detention during labor and delivery. • Exceptions for legitimate concerns of public safety, officer safety, inmate/infant safety, or flight risk.

  15. Non-discrimination • “All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation; the general assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens.”

  16. Contact Us • www.women.iowa.gov • Rachel Scott, Executive Officer 515-281-4467 rachel.scott@iowa.gov

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