Our 2019-2020 Legislative Record
Throughout the 2019 and 2020 Indiana General Assembly, the W4C Action Fund advocated for a number of our legislative priorities, collaborating with coalitions to push for legislature to improve the state of women in Indiana. Read a summary of the legislation we advocated for and impacted below!
2019
1. Bias Crime Legislation: SB 198.
Allows a judge to consider in sentencing whether the crime was committed with bias or a group’s “perceived characteristic, trait, belief, association or other attribute the court chooses.”
Women4Change Indiana was the only women's organization to advocate for this bill which had bipartisan support and the support of Governor Holcomb. The bill was signed into law in June 2019.
2. Nonconsensual Pornography: SB 243.
Defines "intimate image" and makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a person to distribute or display an intimate image of an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know does not consent to the distribution or display of the intimate image. Increases the penalty to a Level 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense.
This bill was authored by Senator Aaron Freeman (R-32) and co-sponsored by Senator Mike Bohacek (R-8). Women4Change was the only nonprofit/advocacy organization that advocated in favor of this bill, which was signed into law on May 2, 2019.
2020
3. Redistricting Standards: SB 105.
Establishes a redistricting commission (commission) to create, hold hearings on, take public comment about, and recommend plans to redraw general assembly districts and congressional districts.
This bipartisan bill was authored by Sen. Doriot (R-12), Ruckelshaus (R-30), and Merritt (R-31). Co-authors were Sen. Sandlin (R-36), Young (R-35), and Crider (R-28).
Women4Change advocated for this bill as a member of the All IN for Democracy, whose members include Common Cause, League of Women Voters, Hoosier Environmental Council, Citizen Action Coalition, Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, NAACP, ACLU of Indiana, and the Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation.
The bill was referred to the Elections Committee and did not receive a hearing.
4. Sexual Assault Victim Rights: SB 146.
Provides rights to sexual assault victims, including the right to: (1) speak with a victim advocate or victim service provider, if available, and a victims assistance or a social worker, if a victim advocate or victim service provider is not available, before a forensic medical exam or during the course of an investigation; (2) the collection of sexual assault forensic evidence; and (3) notice.
Authored by Sen. Doriot (R-12), Ruckelshaus (R-30), and Merritt (R-31). Co-authors: Sen. Sandlin (R-36), Young (R-35), and Crider (R-28). House sponsors: Rep. Schaibley (R-24), DeVon (R-5), McNamara (R-76), Miller (R-48), Errington (D-34), Negele (R-13).
The Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Women4Change advocated for this bill, and on March 18, 2020, it was signed into law.
5. Consent Legislation: HB 1160.
Defines "consent" for an offense involving a sex crime. Provides that a person commits rape if the person engages in sexual activity with another person and the other person: (1) has not given consent; or (2) submits to the sexual activity under the belief that the person committing the act is someone the victim knows, other than the person committing the act, and such belief is intentionally induced by any artifice, pretense, or concealment practiced by the person.
4 bipartisan Representatives authored & co-authored this bill: Errington (D-34); Negele (R-13); Campbell (D-26); and Schaibley (R-24).
Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Women4Change continue to advocate for this bill. We collected over 1600 postcards from women and men across the state that shared their experiences around sexual assault and violence. The bill will be studied by a 2020 Interim Study Committee.
6. Pregnancy Accommodations: SB 342.
Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying pregnancy and childbirth accommodations and the fiscal impact on businesses within Indiana.
17 bipartisan male and female Senators authored & co-authored this bill. 4 bipartisan female Representatives sponsored the bill in the House.
The bill was also supported by Governor Holcomb and Health Commissioner Dr. Box.
Women4Change is a member of the Equal Pay$ Coalition that advocated for this bill. Other members are Indiana Institute for Working Families, League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women Indiana, Indianapolis National Organization for Women, and others. The bill was also supported by The Indy Chamber, March of Dimes, Indiana Catholic Conference, and others.
The Indiana Senate instead voted to pass an amendment that would create an in-depth study. Sen. Andy Zay (R-17) added the amendment, which would create a summer study to investigate the conditions of pregnant workers. The bill was not included in the summer study topics.
7. Wage History and Wage Range Inquiries: HB 1162.
Prohibits, with certain exceptions, an employer from using an applicant's wage history in the hiring process.
Authored by Errington (D-34) and Boy (D-9).
The bill was referred to Employment, Labor, and Pension and never had a reading.
8. Paid Family and Medical Leave Program: HB 1427.
Requires the department of workforce development to establish a paid family and medical leave program to provide payments for employees who take family and medical leave.
Authored by Campbell (D-26), Errington (D-34), and Fleming (D-71).
The bill was referred to Employment, Labor, and Pension and never had a reading.
9. Fair Pay in Employment: SB 281.
Provides that: (1) it is an unlawful employment practice to pay wages that discriminate based on sex, race, or national origin for the same or equivalent jobs when the employees in question have equivalent education and employment experience; and (2) the civil rights commission has jurisdiction for investigation and resolution of complaints of these employment actions.
Bipartisan authors: Breaux (D-34), Alting (R-22), Stoops (D-40).
The bill was referred to Pension and Labor and never had a reading.
A list of coalition partners on our website: https://www.women4changeindiana.org/coalitions.