Senate Bill S2924A

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2924--A
     Cal. No. 528
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 25, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. CLEARE, BROUK, WEBB -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed,  and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Labor --
   recommitted to the Committee on Labor in accordance with  Senate  Rule
   6,  sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first
   and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed  by  Senate  and
   delivered  to  the  Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to
   third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its  place  in
   the order of third reading
 
 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:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that any relief
 and long-term recovery from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandem-
 ic  must  recognize  the disproportionate burden mothers have weathered.
 Women, especially mothers, have faced the brunt of  the  economic  chal-
 lenges  of  the pandemic due to social barriers and policy failures that
 have been compounded by enduring racism and gender injustices, including
 the lack of care infrastructure, lack of  family-supportive  workplaces,
 and gender and racial pay inequities.
   Women  continue  to  face  unjust gender and racial wage gaps, and are
 overrepresented in low-wage  jobs,  despite  their  gains  in  workforce
 participation.   Asian-American and Pacific Islander women, particularly
 Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander women, get paid as little as  $0.50
 for  every  dollar  a  White  man makes. Black women make only $0.63 for
 every dollar a White man makes, and as a result  may  lose  $946,000  in
 their  lifetimes.   Latina women earn $0.55 for every dollar earned by a
 White man, and as a result may lose over $1,100,000 in  wages  over  the
 course  of  a  40-year  career. Native American women are paid $0.60 for
 every dollar a White man makes and are murdered at 10 times the rate  of
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07517-05-4
 S. 2924--A                          2
 
 the  national  average,  even though financial independence and security
 can increase chances of escaping violence for these women. Women's wages
 are key to their families' economic security and survival.   Across  the
 country,  mothers are breadwinners in almost half of families with chil-
 dren under 18, even though mothers face a greater pay gap than women  as
 a  whole.  Even  prior  to the pandemic, working mothers faced continued
 biases and stigmas in the  workplace  that  caregiving  responsibilities
 will negatively impact their work performance.
   Women  have  suffered  the  majority  of  pandemic-related job losses.
 Since February 2020, women have lost over 5,400,000 net jobs and account
 for 55% of overall net job loss since the beginning of the crisis. Women
 of color are experiencing higher rates of job  loss  than  White  women.
 According  to  the  Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2021 unemployment
 data, the jobless rate for Black women and Latina women aged 20 and over
 is over 60%  higher  than  their  White  counterparts.  Asian  Americans
 recorded  the  highest jobless rates among women in the last 6 months of
 2020, even though before the pandemic their  average  unemployment  rate
 was the lowest.
   Women  face  a disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities.
 Mothers are three times more likely than fathers to be  responsible  for
 most  of  the  caregiving  and household work.   Single mothers are more
 likely than other parents to take care of all  housework  and  childcare
 responsibilities  in  their  household,  and  are more likely than other
 mothers to experience financial insecurity.
   Throughout the pandemic, women of color have played integral roles  on
 the  frontlines  as  essential workers, including as nursing assistants,
 home health aides, and child care educators.
   The unprecedented burdens of child care,  work,  and  remote  learning
 have  strained  mental and emotional health for mothers. These points of
 stressor are compounded  by  financial  instability,  racial  injustice,
 being  a  single  parent,  having  children with special needs, and many
 other factors.
   § 2. 1. There is hereby established an interagency task  force  hereby
 known  as  the Marshall plan for moms interagency task force which shall
 consist of the following members or their designees: (a) the commission-
 er of the department of labor,  or  such  commissioner's  designee,  who
 shall  serve  as chair; (b) the commissioner of the department of social
 services, or such commissioner's designee; (c) the chair of the workers'
 compensation board, or such chair's designee; (d)  the  commissioner  of
 the  department  of  health,  or  such  commissioner's designee; (e) the
 director of the division of human rights, or such  director's  designee;
 (f)  two members who shall be appointed by the governor; (g) two members
 who shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; (h)  two  members
 who shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; (i) one
 member  who  shall  be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
 and (j) one member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of  the
 senate.
   2. The interagency task force shall meet as often as is necessary, but
 no  less  than  four  times  per year and where otherwise appropriate to
 fulfilling its duties under this chapter.  The members of the commission
 shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to  reimbursement
 for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
   §  3.  The Marshall plan for moms interagency task force shall examine
 the following policy areas and issue proposals and recommendations ther-
 eon:
 S. 2924--A                          3
 
   1. The utilization of recurring payments or  financial  assistance  to
 mothers  and  other  caregivers  and  any  equivalent policies under all
 current state and federal programs.
   2.  The current utilization rates and impacts of the state paid family
 leave  program as well as specific impacts of the program on mothers and
 other caregivers.
   3. Current state policy  impacting  the  childcare  industry  and  the
 access or availability of child care in all areas of the state.
   4.    The  availability and access to unemployment for New Yorkers who
 have left a job or worked reduced hours in order to take  on  caregiving
 responsibilities.
   5. The impact of any new policies imposed by the federal government or
 by  state  or  local  officials  during  the COVID-19 pandemic that have
 impacted mothers and other caregivers in the workforce.
   6. The availability and access to mental health  support  for  mothers
 and other caregivers, and the impact of access or availability to mental
 health support on such families.
   7.  The  access  and  availability  of all such programs for immigrant
 families, and the impact of inaccessibility  or  unavailability  of  any
 such programs on immigrant families and the state.
   8.  Any  other  areas  the  task force deems relevant in the review of
 policies that may impact mothers and other caregivers.
   § 4. Within one year of the effective date of this  act,  in  carrying
 out  its functions, the task force shall hold two public hearings around
 the state to foster discussions among, and conduct formal  public  hear-
 ings  with  requisite public notice to solicit input and recommendations
 from statewide and regional stakeholder interests. The task force  shall
 also accept public input in writing.
   § 5. Within two years of the effective date of this act the task force
 shall  report  its  findings  and  recommendations  to the governor, the
 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the  assembly,  and
 shall publicize its findings on the website of the department of labor.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed 3 years after such date.