AAUW CA LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY
June, 2014
Sue Miller
AAUW CA Public Policy Chair
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WHY ADVOCACY?
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In a democracy, we elect representative
leaders who meet to discuss and enact
legislation.
We have the right and the responsibility
to let our elected representatives know
our positions on issues upon which they
must vote.
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WHY ADVOCACY?
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Women’s rights are often inadvertently
or deliberately disregarded in legislation
and policy development, as nationally
and in California women legislators are
in the minority.
AAUW is the leading women’s
organization in the country, and makes
advocacy a high priority.
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WHY ADVOCACY ?
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AAUW CA employs a part-time
Legislative Advocate to represent our
positions on legislation.
To make our advocacy more effective,
AAUW CA organizes individual members
to advocate on issues specific to women
and children.
ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC
POLICY PROGRAM
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AAUW CA surveys members in evennumbered years to obtain opinions
about issues they consider important,
and uses the results to develop Public
Policy Priorities for two-year periods.
The approved priorities become the
guide for reviewing bills each year in
the California Legislature.
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ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC
POLICY PROGRAM
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Our lobbyist keeps members informed
through creating Action Alerts,
Facebook (www.facebook.com/aauwca)
and Twitter messages
(@aauwcalobbyist).
Branches and members are encouraged
to make contact with legislators, in the
name of AAUW, regarding bills on which
AAUW CA has taken a position.
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ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC
POLICY PROGRAM
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However, branches may not take action
on behalf of AAUW in the absence of
state or national organization positions,
including those on state initiatives, and
are encouraged to first get background
from your lobbyist at
legislativeadvocate@aauw-ca.org
and/or the AAUW CA bill tracking
system on the state website.
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ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC
POLICY PROGRAM
Advocacy takes patience. Making
change is a complicated, challenging,
often amorphous, non-linear, multifactorial and lengthy process.
 Through our advocacy efforts, AAUW
CA has been gaining more visibility with
California legislators. Along with this
comes credibility, but it takes work on
the part of our membership – YOU!
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Major Issues in 2014 -2015
Equal Pay for Equal Work – Not Yet!
In California in 2011 the pay gap for
women was 85% of what men earn.
The gap is worse for women of
ethnicity. Black women in CA are paid
63 cents and Latinas just 44 cents
per dollar paid to a male.
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Major Issues in 2014 -2015
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According to the LA Times, all of
California’s women lose out on a total of
nearly $37.7 billion annually.
Need action by Congress, passing the
Paycheck Fairness Act.
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
Poverty is Growing in California
 In recent years the California budget has
been balanced by huge cuts in the “social
safety net” – no change likely in 2014-15.
California has the highest poverty rate in
the nation. One out of six Californians
lives in poverty.
 Over 22% of California children live in
poverty.
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
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More than two million Californians,
including over 500,000 children, live in
“deep poverty” – a family of four living
on $16,500 a year of less.
29% of California’s women-headed
households currently live below the
federal poverty line.
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
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The passage of SB 935 Leno, increasing
the minimum wage, would help the
working poor.
Children living in poverty are especially
vulnerable to trafficking for sex and
labor.
Significant investment is needed in
critical programs for poor children.
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
Title IX
 Federal law states “no person in the
United States shall, on the basis of sex,
be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any educational
program of activity receiving Federal
financial assistance.”
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
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Compliance lags and is rarely
monitored.
Enforcement of compliance is initiated
upon filing of a complaint alleging
violation of Title IX.
Title IX applies to all aspects of
educational opportunities, not just
athletics. Accommodating a pregnant
student is getting new attention.
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Major Issues in 2014 - 2015
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AB 2512 Bonilla and SB 2935 Jackson
both deal with Title IX. Both have been
amended in committee to be limited to
athletics, however both are moving
forward.
Senator Hannah Beth Jackson has
committed to hold a Hearing on Title IX
in August 2014 (no date set).
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How Can Branches Support
AAUW CA Advocacy?
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Follow the progress of California bills –
actions are updated daily on state
website. Respond to Action Alerts! Bills
will soon be going to Governor Brown.
Visit your legislator when in district.
Plan an event for Women’s Equality
Day, August 26, the anniversary of
women getting voting rights in 1920.
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How Can Branches Support
AAUW CA Advocacy?
 Begin planning now to “Get Out the
Vote” for the November election.
 Find opportunities to register voters, at
your local college, high schools.
 Plan a branch program for October
having to do with the election: hold a
candidates night, or a program that
educates about initiatives on the ballot.
Hold it at your local college.
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How Can Branches Support
AAUW CA Advocacy?
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501c3 branches must be more cautious
in advocacy – 501c4 branches have
more flexibility.
Encourage branch members to participate in the Every Member Survey about
Public Policy this fall.
Plan ahead for Equal Pay Day, April 14,
2015.
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How Can Branches Support
AAUW CA Advocacy?
Communicate! Have a Public Policy
article in every newsletter.
 Communicate! AAUW CA Public Policy
Committee members can be a resource
to you, and will welcome your stories to
share with other branches in CA.
Let’s work together to make a
difference for CA Women!
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Thank You for Being an
AAUW CA Leader!
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Keep in touch!
 Facebook – AAUW California
 Twitter - @aauwcalobbyist
 Email – publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org
 Website – www.aauw-ca.org
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Public Policy
 Bill Tracking
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