In response to the national and international spotlight on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and hostile work environments, Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-88) introduced three bills to close gaps in sexual harassment training at colleges and universities, better protect higher education students from faculty with a past history of sexual harassment, and provide data and accountability for state government’s efforts to eradicate hostile work environments.

“Because of the #MeToo movement, we are at a watershed moment in our history,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “But even with these powerful stories coming to light, we’re still uncovering gaps in our efforts where accountability is too low and the likelihood of a hostile work or learning environment is too high. We need better data, mandatory training, and more transparency to address the pervasiveness of sexual harassment in both the public and private sectors.”

A.10020 would establish a committee, made up of human resources staff from both chambers and both the majority and minority parties of the state legislature, to create and implement a survey to measure the extent to which harassment and discrimination persists in the legislature. The goal of the survey would be to measure effectiveness of the legislatures' polices and to bring to light gaps and failures in the system should complaints about sexual harassment and discrimination continue to go unaddressed.

A. 10021 would establish an online database run by the Department of Education that would list instances where a college or university employee was accused of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment, and a subsequent internal investigation found the allegations to be true. Currently, out of concern for the confidentiality of the victim, an employee could be punished by the college or university through forced resignation, demotion, or reassignment, but there would be no way for current or future students or employees to learn about the incident and protect themselves from future acts of sexual harassment or violence. The new database would keep the identifiable information of the victim confidential, but would help prevent new students and employees from the possibility of becoming the next victim.

A. 10022 would require every college or university to provide mandatory sexual harassment training to every employee likely to interact or come into contact with students. Surprisingly, too many colleges and universities do not currently require this training, despite having professors, administrators, advisors, and other employees who have substantial power in their interactions with students.

These three new bills are the latest in Assemblymember Paulin’s career-long effort to empower women, children and families; to combat domestic violence, sexual harassment in the workplace, sexual assault, and human trafficking; and to support pay equity and women’s health. In her time in the Assembly, she has already passed 192 laws and counting in these areas.

“Perpetrators of sexual harassment need to lose their sense of entitlement and be held accountable for their actions,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “We have a responsibility not only to ensure our own house in order within the legislature, but to safeguard students and employees in our institutions of higher learning.”