Women's Public Policy Network

Ohio

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 09/04/17 Week in Review

Monday, September 11th, 2017

In the weekly updates from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we highlight some of the work we have been up to this week, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our email list to receive these updates in your inbox every week!

While Title IX is often associated with the role that it has had in increasing the participation of women in sports, its impact goes far beyond athletics. Under Title IX, colleges, universities, and schools are required to address sexual violence and Obama-era guidelines for investigating sexual assault cases have been critical in addressing the alarming rates of campus sexual assault.  
 

Those protections are now in jeopardy as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has signaled that the Department of Education would be taking steps to roll back Title IX protections for sexual assault survivors. Read more.

What does Title IX mean to you? Share how Title IX has impacted your life. You can make your voice hear on social media using the hashtag #INeedIX. Or share your story on our Ohio Story Bank here.

STAND IN SUPPORT OF DACA
After the Trump administration announced plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we joined advocates on Ohio State University’s campus this week to rally in support of DACA. The program has helped over 800,000 young people – known as Dreamers – come out of the shadows to pursue education and join the workforce without fear of deportation.Now, unless Congress acts, the future of America’s Dreamers is uncertain and they are at risk of being deported.

Click here for resources to take action to defend DACA and protect Dreamers.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK

The Washington Post, September 5, 2017

 

LOOKING AHEAD: PARTNER EVENTS NEXT WEEK

YWCA Dayton – Y-Dub Discussions: School Board 101 
Tuesday, September 12th
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Dayton Metro Library (Main Branch)
215 E. Main St. Dayton, OH 45402
Join YWCA Dayton’s Advocacy Committee for an informative voter education panel discussion, featuring local education experts, about school board structure, how to advocate for students (especially girls and traditionally marginalized groups), and why the school board matters to you – even if you don’t have children in the DPS system. More details here.
 
National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio Chapter – Community Voices: Partnering for Progress
Thursday, September 14th
Meet and Greet 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM, Program 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
OSU African American and African Studies Community Extension Center
905 Mount Vernon Ave. Columbus, OH 43203
Join the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Central Ohio Chapter and local leaders to give voice to critical policy and legislative action that impact the health, education, and economic well being of Black women and girls. Free and open to the community. More details here. 
 
Visit our Partner Events Calendar for more details on events hosted by our coalition partners across the state. 
#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. Summer recess has come to an end for the Ohio General Assembly. The Senate was back in session this week and the House will follow next week so we expect our updates to pick up more soon. This week, we have only a few updates and look ahead to what’s happening next week:
  • HB 214 (LaTourette, Merrin) – The Down Syndrome abortion ban, which bans a doctor from performing an abortion if they have knowledge that a woman is seeking the abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. The House Health Committee will hold a first hearing on the bill on Wednesday, September 13th. The Committee meets at 9:00 AM in Room 121 of the Ohio Statehouse. 
  • SB 164 (LaRose) – A second Down Syndrome abortion ban. The Senate Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee will hold a third hearing on the bill with opponent testimony on Tuesday, September 12th. They will meet at 2:00 PM that afternoon in the South Hearing Room at the Ohio Statehouse.
  • SB 171 (Hottinger) – Increases the penalty for violating a protection order under certain circumstances. The bill would then require those that have violated their protection orders to be electronically monitored by probation agencies. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. 
  • SB 174 (Tavares) – Enacts the Fair and Acceptable Income Required (FAIR) Act, which would update state laws to help protect against wage discrimination. The bill aims to close the gender wage gap. It was referred to the Senate Transformation, Commerce & Workforce Committee on Wednesday, but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
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.
RAISE YOUR VOICE AND TAKE ACTION

There are two Down Syndrome abortion ban bills advancing in the state legislature, which would ban doctors from performing an abortion if they have knowledge that the woman is seeking the abortion due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

During a time when Ohio women and families are facing a complex prenatal diagnosis, lawmakers should not stand in the way of a health care decision that should, instead, be a decision informed by comprehensive medical information and made in consultation with a woman’s family and doctor.

One of these bills, SB 164, is scheduled for a third hearing with opponent testimony in the Senate Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee on Tuesday, September 12th at 2:00 PM in the South Hearing Room at the Ohio Statehouse. 
 
TAKE ACTION: Show your support for those testifying against the bill by attending the hearing. More information available from our partners at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio here.