Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Addressing Labor and Healthcare Inequalities for Women

Article here. Excerpt:

'Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation addressing several challenges facing women and people of color. These bills address labor and health inequalities, from ensuring proper menstrual care is accessible, to promoting more women and minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.

“New York must continue to break down barriers for women and fight inequality throughout our state,” Governor Hochul said. “These laws will address a variety of important issues, supporting STEM careers and helping to ensure equity and access in women’s health.”
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Legislation (S.531-B/A.530-B) directs the urban development corporation to conduct a study regarding the assistance needed by women and minorities to pursue STEM careers. The urban development corporation will work with the State Education Department and the Department of Labor to determine the amount assistance that should be provided in school districts, charter schools, BOCES, and private schools to develop new and enhance current STEM programs in grades 6-12 including career exploration, opportunities for technical skills attainment and partnerships with postsecondary education and training programs. Women and minorities are severely underrepresented in STEM, often because they were not encouraged to early on. In a 2010 survey by the Bayer Corporation of female and minority chemists and chemical engineers, 77 percent said significant numbers of women and minorities are missing from the U.S. STEM work force because "they were not identified, encouraged or nurtured to pursue STEM studies early on.” This bill will help identify the types of assistance necessary to encourage more women and minorities to enter STEM fields.'