YWCA Advocacy Update
156th Georgia General AssemblyOn January 11th, members of the Georgia General Assembly gathered at the Capitol to be sworn in and begin this year’s legislative session. Amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature instituted a testing protocol and other measures meant to protect the health of legislators and staff. Legislators will work to address a number of critical issues as they make their way through the 40 legislative days of the session. In addition to their duty to pass a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, leadership has indicated that legislation impacting voting rights in Georgia will be “front and center” during the session, and a Special Committee on Election Integrity has been established to lead that effort Legislators have also committed to take action to reform Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law. YWCA Advocacy will be tracking these and other items of interest closely during the legislative session. We encourage you to follow YWCA of Greater Atlanta on Facebook and Instagram: @ywcaatlanta to keep up with developments on these issues. The Georgia House is expected to meet for additional legislative days on the following dates:
Wednesday, January 27 – Legislative Day 6Thursday, January 28 – Legislative Day 7 Friday, January 29 – Legislative Day 8
Monday, February 1 – Legislative Day 9Tuesday, February 2 – Legislative Day 10Wednesday, February 3 – Legislative Day 11Thursday, February 4 – Legislative Day 12
Monday, February 8 – Legislative Day 13
Georgia Women’s Policy InstituteWe are thrilled that the ninth cohort of Georgia Women’s Policy Institute (GWPI) Fellows is continuing the legacy of working to improve the lives of women and girls in Georgia through legislative advocacy. Our fellows, listed below, will work on a slate of four policy projects that they have researched, designed, and are working with legislators and other organizations to support.
2020 GWPI Fellows
Maranie BrownAnnie DavisJoy DyessTeMaya EatmonKylee ElliottMamie Harper
Keonnie Igwe
Rachel Lastinger
Trishi Malhotra
Shawn O’Neill
Christiana Oshotse
Kristen Oyler
Asile Patin
Sonia Schrager
Sarah Stephens
Cymona West
Mica Whitfield
2020 GWPI Statewide Fellows
Christian Adams
Michele Bedingfield
Jamie Bormann
Carrie Christie
Mallory Cosby
Kate Dunnagan Elbi Elm Aquaria Smith Vilma Sneed Shay Tarver.
2021 YWCA Advocacy AgendaDuring the 2021 Legislative session, YWCA Advocacy will support GWPI Fellows in pursuing the following policy objectives to help eliminate racism and empower women in Georgia:
• Closing the Gap: would close a gap in law that prevents victims of dating violence who do not live with the perpetrator from obtaining a protective order under the family violence statute.
• Pay Equity: would eliminate salary history questions on job applications.
• Stalking Has No Home in Georgia: would eliminate the statutory exception for stalking where the perpetrator resides.
• Justice for Survivors: would eliminate the statute of limitations for rape, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery.
In addition, YWCA Advocacy is working in collaboration with a range of stakeholders supporting legislative efforts to:
• Extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from six months to 12 months.
• Provide workplace accommodations for pregnant workers.
• Eliminate the sales tax on menstrual products.
• Protect voting rights.
• Repeal Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law.
Stand With Survivors DayDuring the month of February, YWCA Advocacy, GWPI, and a coalition of organizations devoted to ending intimate partner and sexual violence to lead community members in educating legislators and advocating for laws that support survivors of domestic and sexual violence.Activities include:February 8: Advocacy 101 TrainingFebruary 15: KickoffFebruary 15-22: Contact your legislatorsSign up at tinyurl.com/swsd2021 to participate!