Civil Rights: The WBA’s concern for protecting the interests of families required that we oppose enshrining discrimination and prejudice in the Massachusetts Constitution. An initiative Amendment, “The Protection of Marriage” defining marriage as only between a woman and a man was defeated in the legislature in joint Constitutional Convention in 2007.
Reproductive Rights: The buffer zone between reproductive health clinics and protesters was expanded to 35 feet effective 11/13/07 when the Governor signed the law with an emergency preamble.
An Act to Provide Timely Access to Emergency Contraceptive by requiring appropriate health care for rape survivors and allowing pharmacists to provide emergency contraception directly to women. Signed into law in 2005.
An Act Providing Equitable Coverage Under Health Plans –to require contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy coverage under insurance plans regulated by the state. Signed into law in 2/02.
Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Workplace Discrimination: The WBA-supported bill to extend the statute of limitations for all forms of prohibited workplace discrimination from 6 months to 3 years became law in 2002.
Low Income Tenants’ Rights: The WBA successfully opposed a 2002 Mandatory Rent Escrow bill, the real estate industry's attempt to completely emasculate tenant defenses in eviction actions.
Children’s Health: The WBA supported a bill to establish a commission to study and evaluate the delivery of mental health services to children. Enacted in 2001
Reproductive Rights: The WBA supported the Clinic Buffer Zone bill which creates a “bubble zone” of 6’ around a person when with 18’ of entrances or direct path to door of health clinics. Enacted in 8/00
Domestic Violence: The WBA supported the Address Confidentiality Program which allows victims to obtain an alternate address through the Secretary of State's office which can be used for receiving mail, service, voting, receiving benefits, etc.
The WBA supported An Act Protecting Children from Domestic Violence in Custody and Visitation Proceedings - which creates a rebuttable presumption that a child not be placed in shared, sole, legal or physical custody of a parent who commits a “pattern or serious incident” of abuse against the other parent and ensures that visitation orders make adequate provision for the safety of abused parent or child. Signed into law 7/98.
Commission on the Status of Women: The WBA endorsed the bill which established a permanent, statutory Commission on the Status of Women. Having just a Governor’s Advisory Ctte. on Women’s Issues, Mass. was one of only 11 states without such a permanent commission. Signed by Governor 5/98.
Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault: The WBA supported the bill which extended to victims of rape or assault with intent to rape to same voter registration confidentiality which was provided to victims of domestic violence in 1995. Signed by Governor 4/98.
Court Child Care project: WBA supported the funding of child care centers for courts of the Commonwealth. The efficiency of the courts is well served when children are not in the court rooms and when those having business before the courts know their children are in safe educational settings with referral services available. Funds for existing and new centers included in FY1999 budget.
Children’s Issues: The WBA supported the inclusion of funds in budget item 4130-3300 (Income Eligible Child Care) to help 6,000 working families off waiting lists for affordable child care. The requested $25 million was included in the FY1999 Budget.
Reproductive Rights: The WBA supported legislation which ended the discrimination suffered by, and lifted the ban on abortion coverage for, public employees and their families.
Domestic Violence: The WBA assisted in drafting and the successful passage of two bills designed to protect victims of domestic violence: one which requires the confiscation of weapons and of licenses to carry guns and federal identification cards on issuance of a TRO and the second which allows for the admission of evidence of past abuse on behalf of battered women accused of fighting back against their batterers.
Sexual Harassment: The WBA supported legislation which mandated education of employers and employees about what constitutes sexual harassment, about its illegality and facilitate reporting mechanisms in the workplace.
Employment: The WBA worked in coalition to pass a law restoring fair monetary requirements for low wage workers to qualify for unemployment compensation.
Medicaid: The WBA worked with other bar associations to defeat a measure which would have expanded Medicaid liens on real property and had a disproportionate impact on the poorest seniors who do little or no estate planning, cannot afford long term care insurance and on women as care-giving survivors, especially.