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.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7895--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 19, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, CRUZ, DAVILA, SANTABARBARA, TAYLOR,
WEPRIN, LEVENBERG, ZACCARO, ALVAREZ, REYES -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- recommitted to the
Committee on Governmental Operations in accordance with Assembly Rule
3, sec. 2 -- 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 $0.50
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07517-02-4
A. 7895--A 2
1 are key to their families' economic security and survival. Across the
2 country, mothers are breadwinners in almost half of families with chil-
3 dren under 18, even though mothers face a greater pay gap than women as
4 a whole. Even prior to the pandemic, working mothers faced continued
5 biases and stigmas in the workplace that caregiving responsibilities
6 will negatively impact their work performance.
7 Women have suffered the majority of pandemic-related job losses.
8 Since February 2020, women have lost over 5,400,000 net jobs and account
9 for 55% of overall net job loss since the beginning of the crisis. Women
10 of color are experiencing higher rates of job loss than White women.
11 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2021 unemployment
12 data, the jobless rate for Black women and Latina women aged 20 and over
13 is over 60% higher than their White counterparts. Asian Americans
14 recorded the highest jobless rates among women in the last 6 months of
15 2020, even though before the pandemic their average unemployment rate
16 was the lowest.
17 Women face a disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities.
18 Mothers are three times more likely than fathers to be responsible for
19 most of the caregiving and household work. Single mothers are more
20 likely than other parents to take care of all housework and childcare
21 responsibilities in their household, and are more likely than other
22 mothers to experience financial insecurity.
23 Throughout the pandemic, women of color have played integral roles on
24 the frontlines as essential workers, including as nursing assistants,
25 home health aides, and child care educators.
26 The unprecedented burdens of child care, work, and remote learning
27 have strained mental and emotional health for mothers. These points of
28 stressor are compounded by financial instability, racial injustice,
29 being a single parent, having children with special needs, and many
30 other factors.
31 § 2. 1. There is hereby established an interagency task force hereby
32 known as the Marshall plan for moms intergency task force which shall
33 consist of the following members or their designees: (a) the commission-
34 er of the department of labor, who shall serve as chair; (b) the commis-
35 sioner of the department of social services; (c) the chair of the work-
36 ers' compensation board; (d) the commissioner of the department of
37 health; (e) the director of the division of human rights; (f) two
38 members, who shall be appointed by the governor, one upon the recommen-
39 dation of the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress
40 of Industrial Organizations and one upon the recommendation of the New
41 York State Business Council; (g) one member, who shall be appointed by
42 the speaker of the assembly; (h) one member, who shall be appointed by
43 the temporary president of the senate; (i) one member, who shall be
44 appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and (j) one member,
45 who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
46 2. The interagency task force shall meet as often as is necessary, but
47 no less than once per month and where otherwise appropriate to fulfill-
48 ing its duties under this chapter. The members of the commission shall
49 serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for
50 all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
51 § 3. The Marshall plan for moms interagency task force shall examine
52 the following policy areas and issue proposals and recommendations ther-
53 eon:
54 1. The utilization of recurring payments or financial assistance to
55 mothers and other caregivers and any equivalent policies under all
56 current state and federal programs.
A. 7895--A 3
1 2. The current utilization rates and impacts of the state paid family
2 leave program as well as specific impacts of the program on mothers and
3 other caregivers.
4 3. Current state policy impacting the childcare industry and the
5 access or availability of child care in all areas of the state.
6 4. The availability and access to unemployment for New Yorkers who
7 have left a job or worked reduced hours in order to take on caregiving
8 responsibilities.
9 5. The impact of any new policies imposed by the federal government or
10 by state or local officials during the COVID-19 pandemic that have
11 impacted mothers and other caregivers in the workforce.
12 6. The availability and access to mental health support for mothers
13 and other caregivers, and the impact of access or availability to mental
14 health support on such families.
15 7. The access and availability of all such programs for immigrant
16 families, and the impact of inaccessibility or unavailability of any
17 such programs on immigrant families and the state.
18 8. Any other areas the task force deems relevant in the review of
19 policies that may impact mothers and other caregivers.
20 § 4. Within one year of the effective date of this act, in carrying
21 out its functions, the task force shall hold five public hearings around
22 the state to foster discussions among, and conduct formal public hear-
23 ings with requisite public notice to solicit input and recommendations
24 from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. The task force shall
25 also accept public input in writing. The task force may utilize remote
26 access such as web conferencing in order to comply with the provisions
27 of this section.
28 § 5. Within two years of the effective date of this act the task force
29 shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the
30 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, and
31 shall publicize its findings on a website provided by the department of
32 labor.
33 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
34 deemed repealed 3 years after such date.
