The women's bar association
The WBA supported anti-human trafficking legislation signed by the Governor in 11/11. This law makes human trafficking a crime in Massachusetts. The law makes patronizing a human trafficking victim a crime and allows forfeited assets and fines related to human trafficking to be distributed to victims.
An Act Updating the Public Health Laws [aka Negating Archaic Statutes Targeting Young Women - NASTY Women] would repeal laws banning all abortions, bans on adultery and fornication, requirement that all non-emergency after 12th week be performed in a hospital, banning contraceptive use for unmarried couples. Signed into law 7/27/18.
An Act relative to Advancing Contraception Coverage and Economic Security codifies the access to cost-free preventive care for women from ACA into state law, protecting access to no-copay birth control by requiring insurers cover all contraceptive measures approved by the FDA; guarantees coverage for OTC emergency contraceptives without a prescription; and for birth control prescriptions intended to last up to 12 months. Signed into law as Chapter 120 of the Acts of 2017 in 11/17
An Act to Promote Public Safety and Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities filed in response to the McCullen v. Coakley decision by the United States Supreme Court, which struck down portions of the Massachusetts buffer zone statute around driveways and entrances of reproductive health care facilities. Signed into law 7/14
An Act Establishing a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program requires employers to offer employees up to 16 weeks of paid leave for family care and up to 26 weeks for temporary disability leave. Employees would be eligible for such benefits after 1,250 hours of service, the current federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) standard. Signed into law 6/28/18.
An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness amends MGL §4, ch.151B to cover women (pregnant & nursing) who need minor accommodations. Signed into law as Chapter 54 of the Acts of 2017 in 7/17.
An Act to Establish Pay Equity to protect employees’ freedom of speech regarding pay, eliminate the use of salary history in the hiring process, require compensation to be based on comparable skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions and require employers to include minimum pay in job postings. Signed into law as Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2016 in 8/16.
An Act to Establish Domestic Workers Bill of Rights was signed into law 6/14 as Chapter 148 of the Acts of 2014
An Act to Protect Access to Confidential Healthcare (PATCH) established mechanisms to ensure that, when multiple people re on the same insurance plan, confidential health care information (Explanation of Benefits-EOBs) is not shared with anyone other than the patient to protect victims of domestic violence or young adults or minors seeking medical or counseling care. Chapter 63 of the Acts of 2018, 3/18
An Act Relative to Gender Identity and Nondiscrimination added public accommodations to the list of areas in which transgender people cannot be discriminated against. Signed into law as Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2016 on 7/16.
The law to add “gender identity or expression” to hate crimes and employment, housing, credit and education non-discrimination laws was signed by Governor 11/11
An Act Relative to Parental Leave making it explicit that parental leave benefits apply to men as well as women was signed into law in 1/15 as Chapter 484 of the Acts of 2014.
An Act Relative to Domestic Violence, signed into law as Chapter 260 of the Acts of 2014 establishes new criminal offenses related to domestic violence such as strangulation, creates new legal protections for victims, prohibits the use of accord and satisfaction in domestic violence cases, corrects flaws in MGL ch. 265 § 13M and adds workplace protections to victims of domestic violence.
An Act relative to Advancing Contraception Coverage and Economic Security codifies the access to cost-free preventive care for women from ACA into state law, protecting access to no-copay birth control by requiring insurers cover all contraceptive measures approved by the FDA; guarantees coverage for OTC emergency contraceptives without a prescription; and for birth control prescriptions intended to last up to 12 months. Signed into law as Chapter 120 of the Acts of 2017 in 11/17
An Act Relative to Safe Pregnancies and Related Health Care for Female Inmates (in State Prisons, County Houses of Correction and Jails) which prohibits shackling during delivery and requires pre- and post-natal services signed as Chapter 103 of the Acts of 2014.
An Act Relative to Housing Rights of Victims of Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Assault and Stalking, signed by Governor 1/13, amends the existing housing discrimination laws to prohibit discrimination against victims of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and stalking (while also preserving the rights of property owners), to create a defense to eviction and a vehicle for victims to vacate their lease or rental agreements without penalty.
