ALICE (the American Legislative and Issue Campaign Exchange) is a national project offering a searchable, web-based, public library of progressive state and local law. The ALICE website –www.alicelaw.org - provides a single, easily accessible place where progressives interested in state and local government can find model and exemplary laws and supporting documents that reflect their values. This post highlights exmplary laws tracked by ALICE.
Progressive 2014 Legislation: Reproductive Rights
While the retrograde assault on reproductive rights continues in too many places, here are six progressive reproductive rights bills currently working their way through states and localities in 2014:
1. The Madison WI City Council has passed Ordinance 46, based on longstanding Colorado law, creating a protective "buffer zone" at health care facility entrances to allow patients and staff to enter and exit without facing harassment or obstruction.
2 and 3. Bills to eliminate discrimination and ensure reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform a job are limited by pregnancy or childbirth have been introduced in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
4. Massachusetts Senate Bill 2012 would prevent shackling and promote safe pregnancies for female inmates.
5. In New Jersey, Assembly Bill 2678 would require pharmacies to stock and dispense emergency contraception.
6. And in New York State, the Assembly has again passed the 10-part Women's Equality Act. In addition to provisions that would address domestic violence, human trafficking, and discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace, the bill would also affirm a women's right to an abortion in the state within 24 weeks of pregnancy or to protect her life and health, even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Progressive Advocacy: Pre-K for All
From a new study on Georgia's voluntary universal pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds: "Results showed that participation in Georgia’s Pre-K Program significantly improved children’s school readiness skills across a wide range of language, literacy, math, and general knowledge measures." This is just the latest research documenting the benefits of universal pre-kindergarten.
While the data is incontrovertible, achieving adequate funding for pre-K continues to be a problem. Georgia and Oklahoma are the two states with the longest standing commitment to adequately-funded universal pre-K. However, Georgia funds pre-K with state lottery proceeds, and lower receipts drove significant cuts to the program in 2011. Some cuts have since been restored but class sizes remain too large and waiting lists persist. Oklahoma, on the other hand, funds pre-K through its regular K-12 school funding formula, which has provided a more stable funding stream.
ALICE's Pre-K for All toolkit offers a variety of resources for instituting universal voluntary pre-K in your state, including the ALICE Model Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten for All Act.