Georgia AAUW Public Policy 2013
Georgia AAUW members are invited to lobby at the capitol during Lobby Days and Women in the Hall Events in February and March. Our legislators primary directive is to pass a balanced budget for 2014 … additionally there are bills being introduced as well as advocacy and lobby groups working during the 2013 session.
Georgia supports and mirrors the legislative agenda of Georgia Women for a Change (GWFAC) with a focus on:
- Economic Security, Independence and Opportunity for Women and Girls
- End Violence Against Women and Girls
- Advocate for Transparent, Responsible and Balanced Revenue and Spending Policies
- Safeguard and Improve Access to Health Care for Women and Girls
GWFAC is very focused on these issues. As an example GWFAC is continuing to work within the framework of HB200 success and is promoting a bill to provide victims of human trafficking with an accessible toll free hot line posted in strategic demographics.
Several organizations including Georgia AAUW, Georgia League of Women Voters and Georgia Job/Family Collaborative are working to promote the Family Care Act (FCA) – which asks employers to recognize sick days can be used to care for family members. GA AAUW members will be advised when this bill is dropped and will follow it through the legislative process. Expansion of Medicaid in Georgia is also a key initiative to follow and promote – it affects more than 600,000 Georgians.
Georgia Women’s Policy Institute (GWPI) under the guidance of GWFAC has worked on two issues affecting women and seniors. In reaching out to many agencies and organizations (GBI, PAC, CoAge, AARP) HB78 sponsored by Judiciary Chair Wendell Willard, is a bill to better protect senior citizens in Georgia. This bill will incorporate GWPI primary issues to clearly define mandated reporter descriptions and reporting to both law enforcement and adult protective services, as well as adding sexual abuse to the code. The Elder Protection Modernization Act (HB78) will also move all code protecting seniors to the criminal code. Another issue GWPI is pursuing during these 2013 legislative sessions will be a budget request to allocate funds to license adult day care centers. The bill was passed in 2003; funds have yet to be allocated to manage this licensure in Georgia. The 2013 GWPI class will focus on Women’s Health Care issues.
Ethics reform needs to be followed carefully, as there are potentially very restrictive parameters to be imposed on citizen advocacy efforts. (HB142)
Upcoming Women in the Halls / Lobby Days events are:
February 7th (Thursday) AFNAP, Youth Spark, Street Grae, BT4 Seniors
February 14th (Thursday) 1 Billion Rising (VAWA), GA LWV
February 19th (Tuesday) 9to5/By the People Day, FCA
Feb 27-28 Senior Week at the Capitol, PTA
If you are unable to come to the capitol, please contact your local representative to let them know what you would like to see happen with their support. The website www.legis.ga.gov is a link to the Georgia General Assembly, your representatives and calendar events at the capitol during this 2013 session.
GWFAC on January 30th held an invigorating capitol briefing session with Senator Rene Unterman and Representative Edward Lindsey speaking, in addition to other speakers. On February 2nd, Atlanta AAUW Branch hosted a metro area legislative briefing with outstanding guest speakers. In January, Cobb County AAUW also partnered with Cobb-Marietta LWV, AKA sorority to host a legislative forum open to the public with 5 Cobb legislators speaking on various 2013 issues and fielding questions from those in attendance.
Georgia AAUW will keep members posted as key events occur. If you have specific issues affecting AAUW policy in Georgia, please do not hesitate to contact us.