Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 03/26/2018 Weekly Review


Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: In the weekly reviews from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we look back on last week’s highlights from the WPPN, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, showcase weekly news clips, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our emails to receive these updates in your inbox every week!


INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE WOULD GIVE WOMEN & THEIR FAMILIES A MUCH NEEDED BOOST
Two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women, and many of them are working full-time and are the sole breadwinners for their families. That means that when the minimum wage in states fall short, women (and their families) disproportionately pay the price.
Last week, Representative Brigid Kelly introduced Ohio House Bill 576 to increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2025. This bill would give a much needed boost to women and their families. In fact, research shows that when the minimum wage is increased, it helps to reduce child poverty in female-headed households.
Yes, you read that right. House Bill 565, introduced last week, would ban ALL abortions; no exceptions for the health of the woman, victims or rape or incest, or fetal diagnoses.
This extreme, unconstitutional legislation would intrude on the health care decisions of Ohio women and is part of a larger strategy that would take aim to overturn Roe v. WadeTake a moment to write your legislators and urge them to stop the bans.

OHIOANS ARE LOSING OUT ON WAGES WITHOUT OVERTIME PAY RULING
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor took action to strengthen a ruling on overtime pay that would require employers to pay workers overtime from working more than 40 hours per week. It was estimated that the majority of workers who would benefit from the ruling are women.
Unfortunately, the Trump administration has effectively walked away from the ruling, which means that Ohio workers are losing out on more than $123,000 in wages every day. Now, it is up to states to take appropriate steps to protect workers and strengthen overtime.
 
Our partners at Policy Matters, ProgressOhio, and Innovation Ohio are teaming up with national groups to call for action on overtime pay for Ohioans. Join them! Find out more about the press conference below and online here.
 
WHAT: Press conference urging action on overtime pay
WHO: Representatives Brigid Kelly and Kent Smith and Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio
WHEN: Tuesday, April 3 at 1PM
WHERE: Ohio Statehouse, Harding Senate Press Room (Room 109)

STEPPING UP FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We’ll be lifting up and amplifying the work of our partners that are advocating for policy changes to address sexual assault and providing direct services to survivors.
Want to get active now? Here are a few ways you can step up for sexual assault survivors:

Attend the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence’s Sixth Annual Advocacy Day To End Sexual Violence:
When: Thursday, April 19 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: The Ohio Statehouse
What: You will hear from legislators about bills they’re sponsoring to address sexual assault, and then meet with your legislator to advocate for these policy changes.
Find out more and register here.

Attend the YWCA Dayton’s Accomplices & Allies Training: Recognizing, Responding and Supporting Survivors:
When: Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Where: YWCA Dayton, 141 W. Third St., Dayton, OH
What: A community training session that teaches everyday people techniques for recognizing and responding to sexual violence, as well as techniques on how to support the survivors in their own lives. This day-long training session gives cultural context for sexual violence, relevant techniques for recognizing situations where violence may be present, methods on showing support to survivors, and ways to actively intervene before violence occurs.
Find out more and register here.

Make your voice heard on social media using the hashtag #SAAM2018 and #EmbraceYourVoiceOH



#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. The legislature is still out for another week on spring break, but will return next week. Here are some updates for activity to watch for in the House and Senate:
  • HB 1 (Sykes, Manning) – Dating Violence Protections: Dating Protection Orders: Modernizes Ohio’s domestic violence laws by extending victims of dating violence access to DV protections, such as civil protection orders. The bill was delivered to the governor on March 28 for his signature. 
  • HB 576 (Kelly) – Minimum Wage: Increases the state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The bill was introduced in the House on March 28.

We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on these and other women-centric legislation on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.


There is evidence showing a link between domestic violence and gun violence. That’s why common-sense gun reform that addresses this connection is so critical to protect abuse victims from gun violence – and possibly prevent mass shootings from occurring.
New York state just passed legislation that would prevent those convicted of domestic abuse from purchasing firearms and would require them to turn over all firearms in their possession, including rifles, shotguns, handguns, and assault weapons.
Similar legislation is currently pending in our state legislature. Ohio HB305 (Boyd, Antonio) would prohibit anyone convicted of domestic violence or subject to a protection order from possession or purchase of a firearm.
The bill was introduced in July of 2017, but has only received one hearing in the House Federalism & Interstate Relations Committee. Contact the committee chair and urge her to hold hearings on the HB305:
  • Call Chair Roegner’s office at (614) 466-1177
  • Send her an email using our letter writing tool
Here’s more from our partner and convener, Innovation Ohio Education Fund, on current gun reform legislation pending in Ohio.