Legislative and Legal Rights Committee

Tracy E. Williams, Chair

Purpose/Description
The Legislative and Legal Rights Committee is established for the purpose of advising and assisting the RICW on matters relating to the legal rights of women, to monitor and review existing and proposed legislation pertaining to women and to make recommendations to the Executive Committee/Full Commission on these issues.

Accomplishments during FY 2006:

The Committee provided information helpful in the development of testimony and support letters for legislation on which the Commission took a position. Of the 6 bills supported by the Commission, 4 passed into law. They are:

• H. 7383 Sub A Amends the affordable housing practices act to include owners who try to leave the section 8 program.
• S. 2972/H. 7399 Makes the selling and obtaining of telephone records without the subscriber’s consent a criminal offenses, and provides for a civil cause of action for violation of this section. Exemptions are made for law enforcement and emergency personnel.
• S. 2419 Sub B/H. 7138 Sub B Adds stalking and cyber stalking to the definitions relative to domestic violence and domestic abuse.
• S. 2347 Sub B Requires the lottery director to withhold video lottery terminal winnings for the payment of child support arrearages.
• Completed second edition of the Legal Rights Guide for Women and posted it to the RICW website.