Page 32 - CALIFORNIA WOMAN - SPRING EDITION 2023 with all FORMS

CFBPW ADVOCACY EXPANDS TO WORK IN COALITION

The California Federation of Business and Professional women became an official
member of the California Work and Family Coalition early this year, 2023. Your Public
Policy team wants you, its members, to know about this important step and what it
means for our public policy advocacy.

First, a little background about the Coalition. As stated on its website, “Our Coali-
tion—made up of community organizers, public health officials, unions, worker leaders,
legal experts, and advocates—works together to advance policies that build family-
friendly workplaces.” See workfamilyca.org.

Past accomplishments include successful efforts to pass California’s groundbreaking
Paid Family Leave and paid sick days laws. Last year, it was a leading force behind a
law that will increase the wage replacement rates for lower income workers taking paid
family leave or disability leave, making leave more accessible and equitable. The Coali-
tion advocates on behalf of parents, caregivers and families, working toward a world
“where all people have the time, resources, and support systems to care for themselves
and their families.”

As Coalition members, we have a vote in setting its legislative priorities. Priority
bills for this year include one calling for paid family leave for “Chosen Family,” e.g., part-
ners that do not fall within the traditional definition of family (AB 518, Wicks) and one
that would ban employment discrimination based on family caregiver status (AB 524,
Wicks). CFBPW has the opportunity to adopt Coalition priorities such as these bills as its
own, as part of our bill screening process.

As Coalition members, we can join in member meetings, including those focused on
advocacy. Joining the Coalition leverages our ability to work toward our own public poli-
cy priorities on legislation of mutual interest. Our participation in Coalition meetings will
help us stay informed about overlapping bills that we support, their status and their im-
pact on women in the workplace. The Public Policy and Screening Committees can then
take appropriate actions to advance CFBPW public policy priorities.

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