Women’s Health Caucus
The PA Agenda for Women’s Health covers a broad range of proposals that advance three principle goals to enhance the health and well-being of women, families, and our communities.
Safety & Dignity
Women should have the right to feel safe wherever they are. We support legislation that advances women’s safety, protects their privacy rights and respects their individual dignity.
Protections of personal privacy and dignity
- Expanding intimate images statute
- Addressing the issue of “sextortion”
- Fighting “street harassment”
- Ensuring reasonable accommodations for woman incarcerated during pregnancy
- Strengthening protections against sexual harassment in the workplace
Protection for Victims of Intimate Partner violence
- Eliminating cellphone policies that hamper victims’ efforts to escape
- Enabling domestic violence victims to avoid leases
- Giving public housing victims of stalking or domestic or sexual violence a right to relocate to other public housing
Governor Wolf’s “It’s on Us” campaign against campus sexual violence
- Ensuring online/anonymous reporting
- Removing disincentives to reporting, e.g. providing institutional amnesty for reporting
- Sexual education and affirmative consent
- Comprehensive anti-violence policy
Economic Security
Women deserve a fair opportunity to work and to earn a living wage to care for themselves and their families.
Fair Wages & Income
- Raising the minimum wage
- Closing Pennsylvania’s wage pay gap
- Applying the minimum wage to tipped workers
- Retirement security for widows.
Eliminate Obstacles to Work
- Ensuring paid family and medical leave for working families
- Helping lift working families out of poverty
- Establishing a Women Veterans Task Force
- Ensuring reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and nursing mothers
- Promoting access to affordable child care
Access to Health Services across the Life Span
Women have unique healthcare needs and are often the primary care providers in most households. They must be able to grow and build healthy families, when and if they choose to do so, with access to family planning, maternal and neo-natal health care.
Protecting access to reproductive healthcare
- Protecting broad access to the most effective family planning services.
- Ensuring the availability of accurate, scientific information and medical independence in the patient/provider relationship
Maternal/neo-natal Health
- Call for consumer protections in health insurance so all Pennsylvanians have coverage for essential care like maternity care, mental health services, and dental and vision care for children.
- Encourage screening and treatment for post-partum depression
- Support access to doulas and midwives to reduce rates of infant and maternal mortality
Support Care for Diseases Disproportionately Impacting Women
- Protecting state funds dedicated to breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment
- Promote respite care for caregivers
Bills of Interest for Women’s Health Caucus Members
Safety and Dignity Legislation
Protecting Personal Privacy and Dignity
HB 962 (Davis/Donatucci) – Safe Campuses Act
Sponsors: Davis, Donatucci, Kinsey, Driscoll, Readshaw, Millard, Freeman, Hill-Evans, Caltagirone, D. Costa, Schweyer, Roebuck, Pashinski, Schlossberg, Day, Briggs, Frankel, O’Brien, Bullock, Dean, Neilson, Solomon, DeLuca, Murt, Kortz, V. Brown, Galloway, Fitzgerald, Rothman, Daley, Boyle, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Schwank- Safe Campuses Act
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1633 (Hill-Evans) – Task force on campus intimate partner violence and sexual assault
Sponsors: Hill-Evans, Frankel, Dean, O’Neill, D. Costa, Kinsey, Readshaw, Freeman, V. Brown, Warren, Millard, Davis, Caltagirone, Thomas, Donatucci, Rothman, Daley, Boyle, O’Brien, Briggs, Youngblood, Kortz, McCarter, Schweyer, Wheatley, Roebuck, Fitzgerald, Comitta, Madden, Kim and Rozzi
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1705 (Murt) – Dating Violence Education
- Sponsors: Murt, Boback, V. Brown, Daley, Dean, Driscoll, Hill-Evans, Kinsey, Schweyer, Sims, Watson and Bradford
- Cosponsor memo here.
HR 444 (Daley & Murt) – Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the implementation of Act 45 of 2010 (shackling of pregnant women in state and county custody)
Sponsors: Daley, Murt, Dean, Solomon, Readshaw, Davis, Schlossberg, Kinsey, D. Costa, Schweyer, O’Brien, D. Miller, Warren, Watson, Thomas, Youngblood, Freeman, Sims, Hill-Evans, Sturla, Kortz, M. Quinn, Bullock, Frankel, Caltagirone, Donatucci and Bradford
Cosponsor memo here.
Caltagirone – Free Feminine Hygiene Products in Prisons
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 547 (Sen. Schwank) – Dating and Sexual Violence Prevention Education
Sponsors: Schwank, Costa, Hughes, Blake, Fontana, Brewster, Yudichak, Tartaglione, Rafferty, Farnese, Boscola, Mensch, Browne, and Sabatina
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1615 (Sims/Daley) – Sex Education and Affirmative Sexual Consent
Sponsors: Sims, Daley, Frankel, Schlossberg, Sturla, Davis, O’Brien, Solomon, DeLuca, Donatucci, Rozzi and McClinton
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1038 (Warren) – Age Restriction for Marriage License
Sponsors: Warren, Davis, Solomon, Madden, Staats, Daley, Briggs, Driscoll, Rozzi, Hill-Evans, Gillen, Schweyer, Kulik, Kinsey, Neilson, Schlossberg, Harper, Dean, Frankel, Boyle, O’Brien, McCarter, Wheatley, Donatucci, Kim and D. Miller
Cosponsor memo
HB 1687 (Harkins) – Healthy Workplace Act
Sponsors: Harkins, Freeman, Thomas, V. Brown, Kinsey, Schlossberg, Rozzi, O’Brien, Caltagirone, Pashinski, Roebuck and Sims
Cosponsor memo here.
Madden – Expanding sexual harassment protections in the workplace
Cosponsor memo here.
Krueger-Braneky: Protections for victims of sexual harassment by members of the PA General Assembly
Cosponsor memo here.
Protection for Victims of Intimate Partner Violence
HB 903 (Murt) – Increased penalties for invasion of privacy
Sponsors: Murt, Boback, V. Brown, D. Costa, Gillen, Kinsey, Nelson, Readshaw and Watson
Cosponsor memo here.
Dean – Rental protections for victims of domestic violence
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1632 (Hill-Evans) – Cancelling phone contracts for victims of domestic violence
Sponsors: Hill-Evans, Samuelson, Freeman, Schweyer, Schlossberg, J. Harris, Caltagirone, Dean, Frankel, Solomon, Kinsey, Millard, Bullock, Youngblood, Barrar, V. Brown, Neilson, D. Costa, DeLuca, Rozzi, Daley, Davis, Boyle, O’Brien, Briggs, Rabb, McCarter, Wheatley, Roebuck, Fitzgerald, Comitta, Donatucci, Madden and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1211 (Boback) – Waiving document fees for domestic violence victims
Sponsors: Boback, Baker, Dean, V. Brown, Schlossberg, O’Brien, D. Costa, Rozzi, Murt, Longietti, Sims, Caltagirone, Helm, Phillips-Hill, Ward, Marsico, Frankel, Toohil, Ortitay, Farry, Gabler, Freeman, Schweyer and Gillen
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 919 (Haywood, Bartolotta, and Schwank) – Relocation for domestic and sexual violence victims in public housing
Sponsors: Haywood, Bartolotta, Schwank, Sabatina, Fontana, Rafferty, Hughes, Farnese, Yudichak, McGarrigle, Costa, Killion, Vulakovich, Tartaglione, Blake, Stefano and Browne
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 313 (Boscola) – Cancelling shared phone contracts for victims of domestic violence
Sponsors: Boscola, Costa, Hughes, Fontana, Farnese, Schwank, Browne, Mensch, Brewster, Haywood, Tartaglione, Baker, Bartolotta, Rafferty, Reschenthaler, and Vulakovich
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 999 (Schwank) – Prohibiting Non-Disclosure Agreements
Sponsors: Schwank, Williams, Leach, Fontana, Browne, Tartaglione, Hughes, Haywood, Brewster, Farnese, Street, Yudichak, Costa, Boscola, Rafferty, Blake, Killion and Sabatina.
Cosponsor memo here.
Farnese – Require Members of General Assembly to Reimburse Public Funds Used to Settle Sexual Harassment Cases
Cosponsor memo here.
It’s On Us
Boback – Expanding Office of Safe Schools to postsecondary
Cosponsor memo here.
Frankel – Online and Anonymous Reporting
Cosponsor memo here.
Dean – Amnesty Policy for Reporting Campus Sexual Assault
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1921 (Daley) – Affirmative Consent
Sponsors: Daley, Dermody, Dean, Davis, Thomas, Kinsey, Boback, Rothman, Frankel, Schweyer, Schlossberg, Hill-Evans, Caltagirone, Rozzi, O’Neill, Warren, Murt, Roebuck, Madden, McCarter, Neuman, Youngblood, D. Costa, Topper, Watson and McClinton
Cosponsor memo here.
Sims – Campus report cards on sexual assault
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1922 (D. Miller) – Comprehensive anti-violence policy for K-12 schools
Sponsors: D. Miller, Kinsey, Dean, Rabb, Frankel, Davis, Schweyer, Ortitay, Readshaw, Schlossberg, Hill-Evans, Dermody, Deasy, Rozzi, Murt, Boback, Roebuck, Pashinski, DeLuca, Thomas, and D. Costa
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 870 (Sen. Hughes) – Expanding the Office of Safe Schools to postsecondary institutions
Sponsors: Hughes, Fontana, Brewster, Farnese, Baker, Browne, Yudichak, Mensch, Rafferty, and Costa
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Baker – Online and anonymous reporting
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 871 (Sen. Schwank) – Amnesty Policy for Reporting Campus Sexual Assault
Sponsors: Schwank, Leach, Sabatina, Fontana, Brewster, Farnese, Baker, Browne, Yudichak, Rafferty, Hughes, Costa and Tartaglione
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Williams – Affirmative Consent
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Haywood – Anti-Violence/Anti-Bullying Policies in Schools
Cosponsor memo here.
Economic Security Legislation
Fair Wages & Income
HB 931 (Donatucci/Bullock) – Equal Pay Legislation
Sponsors: Donatucci, Bullock, Driscoll, Kinsey, Schweyer, Freeman, J. Harris, Dermody, Caltagirone, Boback, Youngblood, Boyle, D. Miller, Frankel, Deasy, Davis, Davidson, McClinton, Solomon, Watson, V. Brown, Roebuck, Readshaw, Fitzgerald, McCarter, D. Costa, Krueger-Braneky, Hill-Evans, Toohil, Thomas, Conklin, Sims, Kim, Rozzi, Daley, O’Brien, Briggs and Wheatley
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1243 (Sims/Davis) – Equal Pay Legislation
Sponsors: Sims, Davis, J. Harris, Dean, Schweyer, Donatucci, Frankel, Caltagirone, McCarter, W. Keller, Thomas, Kinsey, D. Miller, Bullock, Driscoll, V. Brown, D. Costa, Solomon, O’Brien, Readshaw, Boyle, Schlossberg, Hill-Evans, DeLuca, Goodman, Deasy, Galloway, Daley, Briggs, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo: here.
SB 578 (Williams) – Equal pay
Sponsors: Williams, Leach, Farnese, Fontana, Yudichak, Brewster, Street, Haywood, Costa, Schwank, Hughes, Boscola, Browne, Blake and McIlhenny
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1520 (Kim) – Raising the minimum wage
Sponsors: Kim, Caltagirone, Dean, Briggs, Rabb, Solomon, Dermody, Schlossberg, Carroll, Samuelson, Youngblood, Hanna, Frankel, Sturla, DeLissio, Markosek, Warren, V. Brown, Galloway, Donatucci, Matzie, Madden, Freeman, D. Costa, Kortz, Daley, Harkins, Comitta, Fitzgerald, McClinton, Kinsey, Goodman, Davis, Bullock, Thomas, Wheatley, Roebuck, Hill-Evans, Driscoll, DeLuca, Pashinski, O’Brien, Flynn, Ravenstahl, McNeill, McCarter, Mullery, Kulik, Neilson, Vazquez, Krueger-Braneky, J. Harris, Boyle, Haggerty, Deasy, W. Keller, Cruz, Wheatley, Sims, Bradford and Kirkland
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 150 (Leach) – Raising the minimum wage
Sponsors: Leach, Fontana, Costa and Hughes
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 163 (Tartaglione) – Raising the tipped minimum wage
Sponsors: Tartaglione, Leach, Fontana, Schwank, Costa, Haywood, Hughes, and Street
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 12 (Tartaglione) – Raising the minimum wage
Sponsors: Tartaglione, Leach, Brewster, Fontana, Costa, Yudichak, Haywood, Schwank, Hughes, Street, Browne and Farnese
Cosponsor memo here.
HR 584 (Hill-Evans and Schweyer) – Study on income inequality
Sponsors: Hill-Evans, Schweyer, Dean, Youngblood, Donatucci, J. Harris, Sims, Kinsey, Caltagirone, Pashinski, Wheatley, Frankel, Rozzi, Freeman, Vasquez, V. Brown, Driscoll, McCarter, Roebuck, Bradford, Sturla, Dermody, Fitzgerald, D. Miller, Schlossberg, Thomas, Bullock, Davidson, Readshaw, and Kavulich
Cosponsor memo here.
Eliminating Obstacles to Work
HB 1685 (Daley & Miccarelli) – Workplace accommodations for nursing mothers
Sponsors: Daley, Miccarelli, Dean, Donatucci, Rabb, Samuelson, Solomon, Barrar, Schlossberg, Driscoll, Sims, O’Brien, D. Costa, Davis, Watson, Rozzi, Frankel, DeLuca, Boyle, Briggs, Gillen, McCarter, Wheatley, Kavulich, Kim, DiGirolamo, Murt and McClinton
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1634 (Briggs) – Paid Family Leave
Sponsors: Briggs, Dean, O’Brien, Rabb, Thomas, Driscoll, Schlossberg, Youngblood, Frankel, Kinsey, Solomon, V. Brown, Donatucci, Madden, Daley, Davis, Boyle, McCarter, Wheatley, Kim and Rozzi
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 701 (Donatucci) – Paid Sick Leave
Sponsors: Donatucci, Frankel, Youngblood, Dean, O’Brien, Bullock, Dermody, Galloway, Freeman, Kinsey, J. Harris, Schlossberg, Fitzgerald, V. Brown, Schweyer, Roebuck, Caltagirone, Solomon, D. Miller, Thomas, Pashinski, Daley, Davis, Briggs, Boyle, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 515 (Bullock) – Parental Involvement Leave
Sponsors: Bullock, Youngblood, Caltagirone, Rozzi, Sturla, Donatucci, Freeman, Solomon, Schweyer, McClinton, Frankel, Daley, Davis, Boyle, O’Brien, Briggs, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 862 (Leach) – Paid parental leave
Sponsors: Leach, Fontana and Schwank
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 207 (Hughes) – Paid sick leave
Sponsors: Hughes, Leach, Tartaglione, Farnese, Haywood, Street and Blake
Cosponsor memo here.
HB 1583 (Delozier) – Accommodations for pregnant workers
Sponsors: Delozier, Watson, Donatucci, Murt, Caltagirone, O’Brien, Kinsey, Bullock, Freeman, V. Brown, Schlossberg, Rapp, Davis, J. Harris, Dean, Frankel, D. Costa, Solomon, Staats, Gillen, Rozzi, Daley, Boyle, McCarter, Wheatley, Kim, D. Miller, Pashinski and Sims
Cosponsor memo here.
HBs 1159, 1160, 1161 (Cephas) – Child Care Package
Sponsors: Cephas, Dawkins, Kinsey, Driscoll, Bullock, Schlossberg, Charlton, O’Brien, V. Brown, Roebuck, Sims, Donatucci, McClinton, Frankel, Daley, Davis, Boyle, Briggs, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Schwank – Increase TANF Earned Income Disregard
Cosponsor memo here.
SR 5 (Boscola) – Women’s Veterans Health Care Task Force
Sponsors: Boscola, Vulakovich, Costa, Hughes, Fontana, Farnese, Blake, Schwank, Brewster, Tartaglione, Yudichak, Rafferty, Mensch, and Browne
Cosponsor memo here.
Adopted by the Senate, November 21, 2017
HR 313 (Farry/DeLissio) – Women’s Veteran Health Care Task Force
Sponsors: Farry, DeLissio, Ryan, Dean, Frankel, Murt, Mackenzie, Davis, Ward, Millard, Rozzi, Readshaw, D. Costa, Donatucci, McNeill, Schlossberg, Bullock, Boback, V. Brown, Driscoll, Thomas, O’Brien, Staats, Freeman, Watson, Fitzgerald, Sainato, Goodman, DeLuca, Gillen, Corbin, Pashinski, Baker, Daley, Boyle, Briggs, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.
Comitta – Family Childcare Tax Deduction
Cosponsor memo here.
Women’s Health Care Access Across the Lifespan Legislation
Protecting access to reproductive healthcare
Bradford – Safe access to reproductive healthcare facilities
Cosponsor memo here.
Sen. Farnese – Freedom of access to reproductive health care facilities
Cosponsor memo here.
Boyle – Coverage for infertility treatment
Cosponsor memo here.
SB 148 (Boscola) – Coverage for infertility treatment
Sponsors: Boscola, Hughes, Fontana, Brewster, Haywood, Tartaglione, Browne and Farnese
Cosponsor memo here.
Frankel – Patient Trust Act
Cosponsor memo here.
Rabb – Reproductive Health Equity Act
Cosponsor memo here.
Krueger-Braneky, Boyle and Davis – Expanding Access to Contraceptives
Co-sponsorship memo here.
Support Care for Diseases Disproportionately Needed by Women
HB 562 (Donatucci) – Increased funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings
Sponsors: Donatucci, Driscoll, Millard, J. Harris, Caltagirone, Youngblood, W. Keller, Schlossberg, Kinsey, Goodman, Boback, Murt, Dean, Longietti, V. Brown, Fitzgerald, Barrar, O’Brien, Godshall, Frankel, Readshaw, Kavulich, D. Costa, Freeman, Schweyer, Hill-Evans, Samuelson, Sims, DeLuca, Rozzi, Daley, Davis, Boyle, Briggs, McCarter, Wheatley and Kim
Cosponsor memo here.