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CALL TO ACTION: Contact Senate Judiciary Committee members to support Pregnant Worker Accommodation Act

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The Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) supports policies that help New Mexican women and their families reach economic security and stability. The SWLC has been working with Rep. Gail Chasey and Sen. Liz Stefanics on the Pregnant Worker Accommodation bill since 2015.  With its supporters, SWLC hopes that HB 25/a will become law in New Mexico in 2020. 

Since the 2019 session, bipartisan support for HB25/a has grown to include business interest groups, most recently including the Association of Commerce and Industry, the NM Hospitality Association, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, and Albuquerque Teachers Federation. They join a number of women’s rights and worker rights advocacy groups, who stand in support of this important legislative effort.

House Bill (HB) 25/a provides pregnant workers the opportunity to continue to work to support their growing families without risking the health of a pregnancy or the loss of a job.  

HB 25/a is scheduled to be heard next by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  SWLC is requesting that supporters of the bill call or e-mail the SJC members and ask them to hear the bill as soon as possible; and to support the bill. (See below for SJC members and contact information). During the 2019 Legislative Session, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted for a similar version of the bill, HB 196, by a vote of 6-0.

HB 25 has been receiving widespread support from Democrats and Republicans. On February 13th, HB 25/a passed the New Mexico Senate’s Public Affairs Committee unanimously with a vote of 6-0. HB 25/a also passed the House of Representatives unanimously by a vote of 65-0.  During the House Judiciary Committee, HB 25 was amended, which allowed for the support of the Association of Commerce and Industry, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the NM Hospitality Association. 

What does HB 25/a do?   

  • Employers with four or more employees are required to grant a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a need arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related condition, as long as it does not create an undue hardship for the employer. 
  • A reasonable accommodation is a change to the employee’s work environment, work rules or job responsibilities to accommodate a pregnant worker with a need arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions.  
  • PWA extends the protections of the Human Rights Act to pregnant workers who need an accommodation arising from pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition.  These protections include prohibiting discrimination in hiring, discharge, promotion, demotion, compensation, leave, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.  
  • Some examples of a reasonable accommodation include allowing an employee to keep water at their workstation, extra bathroom breaks, reprieve from heavy lifting, light duty, or time off to attend prenatal appointments.

SWLC requests supporters to help pass HB 25/a.  The 2020 NM Legislative Session ends at noon on Thursday, February 20.  If HB 25/a passes at the Senate Judiciary Committee, the bill will go to the Senate Floor.

To support SWLC’s efforts on HB 25/a, please donate at swwomenslaw.org.

Respectfully,
Terrelene Massey,  Executive Director

View contact information for the Senate Judiciary Committee

Senate Public Affairs Committee Unanimously Passes House Bill 25/a – Pregnant Worker Accommodation Act

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HB 25/a moving to Senate Judiciary next. Please call or e-mail Senate Judiciary members to support House Bill 25 as amended, and ask them to put it on agenda 

The Southwest Women’s Law Center (SWLC) supports policies that help New Mexican women and their families reach economic security and stability. The SWLC has been working with Rep. Gail Chasey and Sen. Liz Stefanics on the Pregnant Worker Accommodation bill since 2015. With its supporters, SWLC hopes that HB 25/a will become law in New Mexico in 2020. 

House Bill (HB) 25/a provides pregnant workers the opportunity to continue to work to support their growing families without risking the health of a pregnancy or the loss of a job. On February 13th, HB 25/a passed the New Mexico Senate’s Public Affairs Committee unanimously with a vote of 6-0. 

HB 25/a is scheduled to be heard next by the Senate Judiciary Committee. SWLC is requesting that supporters of the bill call or e-mail the SJC members and ask them to hear the bill as soon as possible; and to support the bill. (See below for SJC members and contact information). 

During the 2019 Legislative Session, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted for a similar version of the bill, HB 196, by a vote of 6-0. 

Last week, HB 25/a passed the House of Representatives unanimously by a vote of 65-0. Prior to that, in the House Judiciary Committee, HB 25 was amended, which allowed for the support of the Association of Commerce and Industry, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the NM Hospitality Association. 

What does HB 25/1 do?

 Employers with four or more employees are required to grant reasonable accommodation for an employee with a need arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition, as long as it does not create an undue hardship for the employer. 

 A reasonable accommodation is a change to the employee’s work environment, work rules or job responsibilities to accommodate a pregnant worker with a need arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. 

 Some examples of a reasonable accommodation include: 

  • allowing an employee to keep water at their workstation, 
  • extra bathroom breaks, 
  • a reprieve from heavy lifting, 
  • light duty, or 
  • time off to attend prenatal appointments. 

 PWA extends the protections of the Human Rights Act to pregnant workers who need an accommodation arising from pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition. These protections include prohibiting discrimination in hiring, discharge, promotion, demotion, compensation, leave, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. 

SWLC requests supporters to help pass HB 25/a. Let’s do it this fourth and last time! Please also thank our bill sponsors – Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Gail Chasey- for their leadership in protecting and advancing women’s rights. 

To support SWLC’s efforts on Pregnant Workers Accommodation, please donate at swwomenslaw.org. 

Respectfully, 

Terrelene Massey, J.D. and MPaff
Executive Director

Download PDF version

Learn more about the Pregnant Worker Accommodation Act

SWLC has a new look.

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The Southwest Women’s Law Center is in the process of updating its brand and its website. 

I started as the Executive Director in January 2019. Following the steps of our two previous dynamic Directors, SWLC is on the path to building a bold and robust future for all New Mexican women and girls, and we want our presence to reflect that. Our work will continue to be highlighted here on our new website as we update our platform, along with using social and print media. Our prior work will be preserved and maintained, as recognition and part of SWLC’s rich past.  

Thank you to all the current and past staff, Board of Directors, legal interns, consultants, and our supporters.

Terrelene Massey
Executive Director

Access to Reproductive Health Care

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How can we bring comprehensive and affordable abortion care to the most marginalized individuals? Reproductive justice leaders weigh in on the subject on Colorlines.com including SWLC’s Executive Director, Terrelene Massey.

I’ve seen first-hand how Indigenous women and communities face too many barriers to have our basic needs met—and that includes access to reproductive health care. Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the use of federal funds to cover abortions for those who access health care through Medicaid or the Indian Health Service. Hyde and other intersecting, discriminatory policies have worked together to hack away at the full promise of Roe v. Wade for Indigenous people.

We’re fighting for a future that includes all of us, and leaves no one—including Indigenous people and those of us living on reservations, Indian land and in rural areas—behind. Our work must do more than sustain abortion rights as they are. Reproductive health care must be affordable and geographically accessible for the most marginalized communities, and to achieve this vision for all of us, we must follow the lead of the Indigenous women and people most impacted by this fight.

Terrelene Massey, Executive Director
Southwest Women’s Law Center


Read full Op-Ed here

Photo Credit: Alfred Gescheidt/Getty Images, Pro-Choice March in Washington D.C., May 4, 1992