On The Floor
Paid Family and Medical Leave
Thursday, February 14th, Senate Chamber
SENATE – Finance – SB 1, establishes a system of paid family and medical leave insurance.
Why this matters: Paid Family and Medical Leave support working families who need to take extended time away from work to care for a loved one. After torpedoing last year’s Paid Leave bill and calling the program a vacation (twice), Governor Sununu promised he would support the bill and laid out specific parameters that he required for viable legislation. Democrats complied with all of these specifications, but that didn’t stop Sununu from staging a photo-op announcing an underdeveloped and unrealistic plan that’s really nothing more than an idea.
Medicaid Rates
Thursday, February 14th, Senate Chamber
SENATE – Finance – SB 5, appropriation relative to Medicaid provider rates for mental health and substance misuse.
Why this matters: New Hampshire is continuing to fight the battle to provide adequate health coverage for mental health and substance abuse. This bill would increase subsidies for Medicaid, encouraging doctors to cover more procedures under this program, thereby giving Medicaid recipients better coverage and care. This will be a positive impact on communities across New Hampshire.
DCYF Staffing
Thursday, February 14th, Senate Chamber
SENATE – Finance – SB6, relative to child protection staffing and making an appropriation therefor.
Why this matters: For years we’ve seen how a poorly funded Department of Children and Youth Family Services can hurt Granite State children. Following the recommendations from the recently released DCYF audit, this legislation would gradually provide enough funding to support adding additional workers to ease the burden on current staffing and lower case numbers. In proposing this bill, Democrats seek to remedy past problems and give families the attention and resources they deserve.
Feminine Hygiene Products in Public School Restrooms
Thursday, February 14th, Senate Chamber
SENATE – Education and Workforce Development – SB 142, requiring feminine hygiene products in school restrooms.
Why this matters: It is important that all students have a distraction-free learning environment. This bill does just that. Many students do not have access to feminine hygiene products which causes a distraction in the learning. Feminine Hygiene Products would be made available for free in public schools restrooms.
Salary History on Job Applications
Thursday, February 14th, House Chamber
HOUSE – Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services – HB 211, relative to inquiries by prospective employers concerning salary history.
Why this matters: Would bar companies from asking for a candidate’s salary history on an application. This process helps keep women from getting salary equity in the workplace and maintains systemic sexism in the workplace.
Criminal Record on Job Applications
Thursday, February 14th, House Chamber
HOUSE – Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services – HB 211, relative to criminal records checks in the employee application process.
Why this matters: Would bar companies from asking for a candidate’s criminal record in the job application process. As job seekers look for upward mobility, they can hit a brick wall due to these background checks. This bill would end discrimination based on the applicant’s past. |
