Gov. McKee Signs Package Of 5 Bills For Women's Health, Equity

PROVIDENCE, RI — Five bills promoting women's health and equity are now law in Rhode Island. Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signed the package of legislation into law Wednesday, surrounded by female lawmakers and other state leaders.

"I'm proud to support women's health and equity," McKee said. "Today, Rhode Island is closing a number of discriminatory gaps and eliminating a collection of practices that have unfairly impacted women for generations. Thank you to the remarkable and dedicated group of legislators who worked day-in and day-out to ensure that these bills became law, and to the advocates whose tireless work and spirit ensured that this progress continues."

The first bill requires pay equity in the workplace, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

Rep. Susan Donovan, the bill's House sponsor, said that she has "experienced first-hand what it’s like to be paid unequally when you are doing comparable work."

"It’s a devastating blow, both emotionally and financially, for so many women and people of color across Rhode Island," Donovan said. "Women work just as hard as our counterparts to advance our careers and support our families, and we deserve to be compensated equally. This bill has been my priority since my first term in the legislature, and I am thrilled to see it pass the General Assembly."

The second bill bans health insurers from the practice of "gender rating," or charging different premiums based on gender.

"Women face unconscionable disparities when buying health insurance in the individual market," Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski said. "Women sometimes are charged 10 percent to 25 percent to 50 percent more than men for insurance providing identical coverage, especially during the age bracket associated with child-bearing years."

The third bill requires that schools provide menstrual products to students, free of charge.

"We all know how necessary feminine hygiene products are, but what many people do not realize, and I see this as a long time educator, is that a lack of access to these products can cause students to miss crucial school days," Sen. Valarie Lawson said. "These products are a daily necessity to so many students and just as schools provide toilet paper for the bathrooms, these products should also be readily accessible for our students in need."

Period products "are not luxuries, they are necessities for many of our students," Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee said.

"If soap and paper towels are available in bathrooms, so should feminine hygiene products, it’s as simple as that," Mcentee continued. "This bill will prevent the embarrassment suffered by our students who have an accident during the school day and afford them the dignity that they deserve."

The fourth bill changes the state's campaign finance laws to allow candidates to use campaign funds for child care, while participating in campaign or officeholder activities.

"While child care can be a concern for potential candidates of any gender, it is a consideration that can deter many women from running for office," Rep. Justine Caldwell said. "Guaranteeing the legitimacy of using campaign funds in this way can help to encourage more women to run, bringing valuable perspective to state and local government. Child care that enables a candidate to perform their political or officeholder activities is a necessity, so of course it should be recognized as a valid campaign expense."

The fifth and final bill aims to protect survivors of domestic and sexual violence by allowing people to request that health care providers and insurers send information about their health to them directly, rather than a parent or spouse.

"Ultimately, this bill is about keeping Rhode Islanders safe and eliminating roadblocks that keep people from seeking the treatment they need," said Rep. Donovan, who also sponsored this legislation. "Adult children on a parent’s health insurance policy should not have to worry about that information being shared. And no one should be put in danger by having their personal health care information sent to someone with whom they would rather not share it."

Sen. Goldin, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, said that health care privacy rights "fall apart" when information is sent to a patient's home.

"The details included in the statements that are mailed to insurance policyholders can discourage patients from seeking a medical intervention that they need," Goldin said. "We want to make sure everyone feels safe to seek the full range of care: from mental health, to reproductive care, to getting a broken bone set. Our bill will provide an option to protect patients who need health care without their family knowing all of the details."