CT Governor's Council On Women And Girls Pushes New Laws

CONNECTICUT — The Governor's Council on Women and Girls announced Tuesday it has developed and is supporting six bills during the 2021 legislative session.

The council, chaired by Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and vice chaired by Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, has the mission of "providing the state with a coordinated response to issues that impact the lives of women, girls, their families, and Connecticut," according to a news release from the Gov. Ned Lamont's Office.

"As we work to recover and build a state that is more equitable, it's critical that we create and implement policies in government and our workplace that reflect and amplify the voices of women and girls," Lamont said.

The council is supporting the adoption and implementation of the following bills:

Senate Bill 883, An Act Concerning Recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, would allow candidates participating in the Citizens Election Program to use program funds for childcare expenses attributable to their campaign. The council also proposes promoting gender and racial diversity on state boards and commissions by codifying the Lamont Administration's new online portal that makes it easier for residents without experience in state government to learn about and apply for positions.

Senate Bill 881, An Act Concerning Workforce Development, would create a "bulk ride transit pass" program, open to training institutions, higher education institutions, private occupational schools, employers, local or state agencies, and public or non-profit social service providers in the state. Usage of the program will be tracked, and contract renewals will account for actual usage.

House Bill 6445, An Act Expanding Economic Opportunity in Occupations Licensed by the Department of Consumer Protection; and House Bill 6449, An Act Expanding Economic Opportunity in Occupations Licensed by the Department of Public Health, would address what the Lamont Administration views as inequity in licensed occupations. Such jobs represent 25 percent of all gigs in the state, a statistic Lamont cites as "significantly more than any other New England or Mid-Atlantic state." Many of these licenses present "unnecessarily high barriers to entry (and) prevent low-income and other disadvantaged workers from embarking on promising fields and discourage skilled workers from moving to Connecticut," according to Lamont. The proposed legislation would, in part, establish a system that recognizes licenses from other states.

Senate Bill 56, An Act Deterring Age Discrimination in Employment Applications, would prohibit employers from asking the age, date of birth or graduation dates of job applicants, unless a particular age is a legitimate occupational qualification or required to comply with any provision of state or federal law.

Senate Bill 87, An Act Concerning Certain Protections for Group and Family Child Care Homes, is meant to ease childcare burdens. The proposed legislation would expand housing and zoning protections for licensed group childcare and family childcare homes in the hope of creating more licensed affordable in-home options.

Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said: "We must do everything we can to ensure that our young girls, women, and families have access to the resources needed to unlock their full potential. That starts with removing any barriers that would prevent students and trainees from attending school and classes, or starting a new job opportunity. And, when more women are elected to represent us at the capitol or on a state board or agency, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future."